Statement by Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Timothy Gaston:
“Today’s report by the Equality Commission which has starkly highlighted educational underachievement in our children, particularly boys from a Protestant working class background, is an area in which our Council need to do our utmost to correct.
“As Council’s across Northern Ireland now have community planning responsibilities, this gives us some scope to address the issue. I have asked this to be included on the agenda for the next Council meeting to allow a full and frank discussion which I hope will provide a platform for creative ideas to help those underachieving.
“Ultimately, we have long known that there are more underachievers from working class Protestant backgrounds, and we all now need to do our bit to help reverse this trend.”