Education withdraws funding for English Speaking Board exams

FUNDING for English Speaking Board examinations has been withdrawn by the Education Department as part of efficiency savings.

Previously, funding was provided directly from the department at an annual cost of £40,000.

Now schools have to opt-in and fund it directly from their own delegated budget.

As part of cuts mandated by the Financial Transformation Programme, Education must make savings of £7.2m. by 2014.

It said schools would still incorporate some components of the ESB into the curriculum.

'The decision to withdraw centralised funding will not have an adverse impact on the children's educational outcome as a similar experience is being provided, just in a different way and more cost-effectively,' Education said.