The reckoning at the Senior High’s Lurgan campus is it’s a case of the rich getting richer while the poor ‘make do’.

“It is totally unreasonable that half of our school population at 14+ are promised “state of the art” premises and the other half are forced to “make do”,” said Thomas McKay, vice-chairman of Craigavon Senior High’s Board of Governors.

He added: “All I am asking for is equality in educational provision. As we go further along into the 21st century is that not a basic requirement for every young person?

He commented: “For too long the students from CSHS have had to, in the main, access educational provision at 16+ outside of this area. Why? The simple answer is there is not adequate provision in Lurgan.

A disgusted parent commented: “It is evident that whilst the middle class Protestant elite of Lurgan may well celebrate a “New Day” in the knowledge that the perpetuation of social division, educational injustice and exclusion will remain, the ‘have nots’ will be consigned to at least another decade of ‘make do’ accommodation standards in “The Tech”.

She described the facilities at Lurgan campus as being ‘Third World’, adding the school has to beg and borrow to provide students with adequate facilities.

David Mehaffey, Principal at Craigavon Senior High, said: “In relation to the rebuilding of Lurgan College I can only welcome the investment that the Department of Education is making in this community. However, I hope that it is no more than the first stage in a wider renewal programme.

“Good teachers don’t depend on buildings to do a good job and Craigavon Senior High School is fortunate to have so many good teachers. But I have to acknowledge that our Lurgan Campus has a number of accommodation problems. They are already known to the Southern Education and Library Board and they do need to be addressed.

“I believe that all the young people in our community have an equal entitlement to top class facilities and resources, and I know that Mrs McClenaghan and her staff at the SELB share that view. I have no doubt that they will be working to redress any imbalance and to ensure that first class facilities will be available to everyone.”

Lurgan College Principal Trevor Robinson commented: “We see this investment as a boost for the two tier system of which Craigavon Senior High School is an intrinsical part.

“We would support that school’s efforts to secure funding in any new capital spend.”

SELB Chief Executive Helen McClenaghan commenting on the issue, said: “The Board is continuing to press ahead with plans to remedy the current accommodation difficulties of Craigavon Senior High School at its Lurgan campus site and to replace a significant number of Controlled primary schools in both towns."