By Aeneas Bonner
Education Correspondent


LEADING children’s charities united last night to call for a speedy resolution to the situation at Holy Cross girls school.

NSPCC (NI) director Ian Elliot said all children must have the right to be educated in a safe and secure environment that was conducive to learning.

“We hope a resolution of the situation at Holy Cross school is possible and support all those involved in their endeavours to bring this about,” he said.

Delia van der Lenden, director of ChildLine (NI) said it came at a time when people in Northern Ireland were being asked to consider the role of a Children’s Commissioner.

“We must look to the future of all our children,” she said.

Pip Jaffa, director of the Parents’ Advice Centre, added that the charities had experience of working with children in stressful situations and were willing to help families in any way they could.

Save the Children also called yesterday for an immediate end to the school protests, saying children should not be used as a “bargaining chip” to resolve differences.

“The trauma and risk to children’s safety which the current protest is causing is a clear infringement of their right to be educated without fear,” a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the assembly’s cross-party education committee held an emergency debate about the situation.

In an agreed statement, chair Danny Kennedy (UUP) said the scenes at Holy Cross were “appalling”.

“It is wrong and very sad to see children caught up in such a highly charged and hostile atmosphere and we are all extremely concerned and worried about the situation,” he said.

“The school experience and environment for children should be a safe, secure and

stable one and every child has the right to travel to and from school free from interference, abuse or obstruction.”

Members said the issues appeared to be complex, but appealed to community and representatives to encourage people to “step back and engage in dialogue”.

Sinn Fein’s Barry McElduff later said that although he would have preferred a stronger statement, it was essential that the committee spoke with one voice on the matter.

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