School leaders urge Stormont to find Strule funding
Omagh High principal Christos Gaitatzis says there can be no more delays
- Published
School leaders have urged politicians to find the money to complete the Strule Shared Education Campus.
The Strule campus in Omagh, County Tyrone, is the biggest school building project ever planned in Northern Ireland.
It will involve more than 4,000 pupils being taught in six schools with some shared facilities.
Omagh High principal Christos Gaitatzis said there can be "no more delays".
The campus had originally been due to open in 2020.
Since then the project's cost has soared to more than £340m. An independent review last year also deemed it "unaffordable".
Last week, Education Minister Paul Givan also said that he was unable to provide reassurances on funding.
Some pupils pictured at the Strule site on Tuesday
Loreto Grammar and Christian Brothers Grammar as well as Omagh High School, Sacred Heart College and Omagh Academy are all hoping to relocate to the campus when it is finished.
The planned campus includes some shared areas, such as a hub containing classrooms for shared lessons, a school of performance and shared sports facilities.
Pupils from five schools visited the 120 acre site on Tuesday.
Mr Gaitatzis said: "Some children, possibly, when this was first talked about are now teachers in these schools.
"It's crunch time and it is so important for the project to be done now."
He added the shared education campus is a huge opportunity for so many young people and urged Stormont to act now.
The Strule campus is the biggest school building project ever planned in Northern Ireland
Meanwhile, principal of Scared Heart College Michael Gormley told BBC News NI that "investment in education is investment for the future".
"My message is quite clear, everything is sitting here ready to go for the project to begin," Mr Gormley said.
"I have every belief that this will happen, the will is there among the community, the will is there among schools.
"The Department of Education is fully supportive and the [political] parties all seem on board.
"I know it is a big ask for that level of finance, but it has to come from somewhere."