Education Minister to seek Executive approval for free period products in NI schools
Peter Weir is expected to put a proposal to Executive Ministers today about providing free period products in schools.
The Education Minister, Peter Weir, is expected to present a proposal to the Executive today (Tuesday) about providing free period products to students.
The issue of period poverty has been a growing concern in recent months because of the devastating impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on all areas of society.
It appears to have exasperated an already pressing issue, especially for school children who, according to The Homeless Period Belfast, are feeling the added pressure of not having access to sanitary items.
Unlike England, Scotland and Wales, NI does not have a budget or scheme in place for these items.
The organisation recently conducted a survey with over 200 pupils.
The figures revealed almost three quatres of participants have had to leave a lesson, leave school or have missed a day entirely because of a lack of access to period products.
The results also showed 91% of those polled have had to use toilet roll as a temporary measure at school, while 89% stated that a lack of access to period products has affected their mental and emotional wellbeing.
Meanwhile, just over half said they have had to ask their teacher for period products due to lack of access.
Katrina McDonnell is the founder of the charity and started the Menstruation Matters campaign two years ago to lobby for these items to be made freely available in schools across the country.
Ms McDonnell said: “I think it’s absolutely fantastic that Scotland have led the way in eradicating period poverty, and they have made history by providing personal access to period products.
“I think it should happen now more than ever given the current context with Covid it’s exasperated poverty, it’s exposed sever inequalities and now more than ever we need free period products for all, especially for those in schools.
“We launched Menstruation Matters Campaign two years ago exactly for this reason we believe in the free universal access to period products, but we believe that’s schools first and foremost should provide these items.
“We know of harrowing accounts of school students who have left school because of a lack of access to these items.
“We also know of students who can’t concentrate or are severely anxious because they don’t want to approach a teacher for these items.
“They’ve missed entire days of school, they’ve left lessons early, its effected and disrupted their education.”
She added: “So, I think it’s really important that we get these items into schools, because you know right now with Covid School students already must worry about transport and their exams and social distancing and homework or whatever else.
“Now they also have to worry about their face masks and hand sanitiser, they don’t need the extra worry of where their next pad or tampons are coming from.”
The DUP’S Peter Weir said his department is currently looking at a pilot programme which would create some level of funding for the programme.
He said: “If there were higher levels of resources maybe we could further in relation to that, but again I think it’s an important step and I await the decision of the Executive in relation to that.
“We can all go back in time and say what should of happened a number of years ago, we can only move from where we are and were also I think for all of us, on a lot of very worthy topics and very and very important topics trying to actually do what we can within the limited resources that are there.”
Chris Lyttle is the Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, he said it is fantastic to see the steps Scotland have taken and said the NI Executive must now follow its example.
He said: “It’s fantastic to see that put in place for free period product provision in school colleges and in public buildings in Scotland.
“It’s absolutely vital now that we see delivery on this matter in Northern Ireland.
“This is a basic human need and its high time that we met for all our young girls and women.
“I think its vital that we enhanced menstrual education for everyone right across our community, boys’ men, obviously young girls and women.
“It’s vital that we break the taboo and stigma.
“There are real financial and impractical implications for girls and young women when they aren’t available and that’s unacceptable and we have to address that.”