9 December 1999

FIRST NORTH-SOUTH MEETING OF EDUCATION MINISTERS

The Education Minister, Martin McGuinness MP MLA, today met his southern counterpart, Micheal Martin TD, for the first time at the headquarters of the Department of Education (DE) in Bangor.

The two Ministers and their officials held exploratory discussions on the potential for North-South co-operation on educational matters across a range of areas including provision for special educational needs, measures to tackle underachievement, teacher qualifications and youth, school and teacher exchanges.

Afterwards Mr McGuinness said: "We had a very useful and informal discussion which will help to set the agenda for a more formal bilateral meeting early in the New Year. This is the beginning of a process which we believe will lead to benefits for children throughout the island."

 

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