East Belfast Youth Call for Increased Support for Youth Club Education

Young individuals in east Belfast have urged increased backing for educational initiatives within youth clubs. These individuals belong to the Phoenix Education Centre, an organization dedicated to addressing educational underachievement in the region through a community-driven methodology. They assert that traditional schooling is not universally suitable and that similar centers could assist those facing difficulties in conventional educational settings. According to former Education Minister Peter Weir, educational underachievement in Northern Ireland has persisted as “entrenched,” notwithstanding substantial financial investment and policy efforts to address it. East Belfast is characterized by a high prevalence of issues including poverty, social class disparities, criminal recidivism, and housing challenges, all of which the Phoenix Education Centre endeavors to ameliorate. Within the framework of the centre’s program, participants engage in Open College Network (OCN) courses covering subjects such as English and Maths, alongside participating in mental health and fitness sessions. The ‘New Decade, New Approach’ agreement mandated the executive to form “an expert group to examine and propose an action plan to address links between persistent educational underachievement and socio-economic background, including the long-standing issues facing working-class, Protestant boys”. The Department of Education commissioned the Fair Start report, which was released in 2021. This report recommended an expenditure of £180 million over a five-year period to combat educational underachievement. However, the education budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year experienced reductions, leading to the cancellation of several programs designed to support children from disadvantaged regions. Victoria Black, aged 18, is one of the young individuals who has received support, mentorship, and educational and training prospects at the Phoenix Education Centre. Victoria stated that after discontinuing her schooling at the beginning of her fourth year, she missed numerous opportunities, but upon joining Phoenix, “all that changed.” She attributed her inability to leave her residence for two years to severe mental health issues and anxiety. Currently, Victoria aspires to become a youth worker, a goal stemming from the competencies she acquired through an alternative learning methodology. Victoria remarked, “It’s a lot more laid back than school but at the same time it’s actually easier and more comfortable for people who have really bad mental health and anxiety.” The centre employs an educational methodology rooted in youth work principles. Victoria explained, “You’re not as pressured and you’re not being told off if you do it the wrong way, if you make a mistake you’re not punished for it.” She added, “You get to learn from your mistake.” Furthermore, she noted, “In Phoenix they actually take their time to explain it to one person at a time because some people don’t learn in the same way.” Cameron Connolly, 19, similarly encountered challenges with mainstream education, especially during his GCSE examinations. He recounted, “When we were sitting at the desks with paper in front of us my mind just went blank, I didn’t know what to do.” Nevertheless, Cameron asserts that the instructional approach at Phoenix has enhanced his concentration, and the setting is more appropriate for him. He stated, “Phoenix suits me much better, it’s much more relaxed, they aren’t as strict and aren’t on your back constantly and they give you time.” He further commented, “The community and the people around is just perfect, it’s keeping me out of trouble, keeping my head straight.” Both Cameron and Victoria contend that traditional schooling is not universally suitable and that such centers can provide assistance to individuals who struggle with or disengage from mainstream education. Victoria remarked, “I’m a lot more comfortable doing this than what I was in school.” She further suggested that a greater number of such centers are needed, given that not all young individuals learn identically. Victoria expressed, “I personally think their should be a change in educational roles in schools, it’s far too professionalised.” She elaborated, “Yes I understand they are trying to get you ready for work but, at the same time, they’re still only young people at the end of the day.” Emma Shaw, the chief executive of Phoenix Education Centre, identified persistent educational underachievement in working-class Protestant communities as a significant concern. She stated, “It’s a hugely complex societal problem but we need to work better together because if we really want people to have meaningful and engaged lives we need to start with education.” Ms. Shaw indicated that the enduring effects of the Troubles continue to influence contemporary young people. She remarked, “We still live in a post-conflict society and while we’re living in a peaceful time at the moment, the legacy of the trauma, poverty, mental health issues, drug and alcohol dependency all impacts our young people.” She further noted that every young person engaged with their organization presents with either special educational needs, mental health challenges, or a combination of both. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their external linking policy is available.