The closure of a primary school in a Co Fermanagh village is a "shattering blow for the community," a local MLA has said.
Lack Primary School, located in the village of the same name, has served the community for decades but is set to close its doors in August 2025, the Department of Education has confirmed.
In 2022/23, there were 25 pupils enrolled in the controlled primary school with these numbers dropping to 22 in 2023/24. The Department said these numbers are "significantly below" the Sustainable Schools Policy (SSP) recommended minimum threshold of 105 for a sustainable rural primary school.
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DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said she was "disappointed" to hear the news, and has praised the school's principal, Sandra Johnston, for her hard work over the years.
Ms Erskine said: "On finding out this news, I got in touch with the Principal Sandra Johnston who has fought tooth and nail for the school community in Lack. I understand she has made parents and the Board of Governors aware of this news. It’s a very difficult day for the staff, parents, pupils and the community."
A development proposal had previously been submitted in 2023 to close the school, with a campaign to fight the closure including petitions and members of the community writing to the Department of Education.
"We have all fought hard to ensure this day wouldn’t come. Alongside Cllr David Mahon, I submitted correspondence against the closure of the school during the Development Proposal process in October 2023," Ms Erskine added.
"Furthermore, in June 2023 I wrote to the Education Department to ask for meeting with Board of Governors and the School so that they could hear our concerns if the school were to close. This meeting took place in October 2023. This took place in the background of a community campaign of which many signed petitions and submitted their own correspondence to the Department.
"Last year the school received a year’s reprieve from closure by the Education Minister. Since then I continued to engage with the Department and raised Lack PS with the Minister when he took up office last year.
"At the heart of today’s announcement is the pupils, parents and staff. Upon hearing the news, I immediately discussed the announcement of the school closure with the Minister today [January 13], expressing my extreme disappointment and I have already asked a number of questions on the next steps. My ultimate priority is making sure children in Lack have the least impact on their educational journey."
Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong has expressed disappointment at the decision to close the school, stating it is a "shattering blow" for the local community.
Ms Armstrong said: "The decision from Minister Givan is deeply disappointing, particularly as I had expressly asked the Minister in October 2024 whether a final decision had yet been made. At that time, his response indicated that a report prepared on the subject of closure had been passed to him to inform his decision, but he did not provide a date for this decision.
"A number of supporters of the school had worked hard to avert this decision and explore every possible avenue to save the school, it is regrettable that this did not workout.
“The news of the closure is a shattering blow for the community of Lack and the dedicated teaching team at Lack Primary School, who have consistently provided an exemplary education and extracurricular programme for the pupils. Their commitment and hard work had created a happy and settled school community, which will now face considerable uncertainty and upheaval in the coming months.
“It’s imperative that the welfare and education of the children affected remain a top priority for the Education Authority to ensure a smooth transition for all involved."
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