UNISON NI and UNISON Down Education branch calls on the Education Minister to intervene and halt the closure of St Malachy’s Primary School in Kilclief, Co. Down

UNISON NI is issuing an urgent call to the Minister for Education to step in and immediately halt the proposed closure of St Malachy’s Primary School in Kilclief.

UNISON stands in full support of the amazing staff, dedicated parents, and spirited children who, alongside the wider local community, are fighting tirelessly to protect their school. St Malachy’s is more than just a building; it is a vital rural institution that has served generations.

The UNISON Down Education Branch is sending a clear message today: We will not give up. We will continue to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with the staff and the community until we receive official confirmation that St Malachy’s is staying open.

“The Department of Education must stop the systematic closure of rural schools; these schools are the heartbeat of our communities. To pull the rug out from under St Malachys is to strip away the social and educational fabric of the area.”

UNISON further challenges the Department’s logic regarding the future of Northern Ireland’s children. Conor McCarthy UNISON regional organiser states “that the Department of education and the EA cannot claim to be committed to improving educational outcomes while simultaneously closing the very schools that provide a nurturing, high-quality environment for pupils. Closing schools and improving educational outcomes are two statements that simply cannot both be true”.

UNISON NI and UNISON down education branch have called on all those who oppose these devastating cuts in education and school closures to stand with the children, parents and the community in Kilclief. This school must not close!