Creationist teaching advocate appointed to chair Northern Ireland Education Authority

Northern Ireland Humanists is deeply concerned by the recent appointment of Mervyn Storey, an advocate for teaching creationism in schools, as chair of the Education Authority. This places him at the head of the institution responsible for delivering Northern Ireland’s education services.

Mervyn Storey, a member of the Free Presbyterian Church and former vice-chair of the Caleb Foundation, has a long history of promoting creationism and opposing evolutionary science in schools. Mervyn is a former MLA. As chair of the Assembly’s Education Committee, he pushed for intelligent design to be taught in classrooms and objected to evolutionary exhibits at the Ulster Museum. His record raises significant concerns about his ability to uphold the impartiality and inclusivity that education demands.

Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator commented:

‘Mr Storey’s track record of pushing for creationism in schools raises serious concerns about his ability to lead an education system that should teach children facts, not pseudoscience. We will be writing to the Education Minister to seek reassurance that creationism will not be taught in schools as scientifically valid.’

In England, the law bans pseudoscientific topics such as creationism from being taught in schools as if they are scientifically valid. The national curriculum there also mandates the teaching of evolution to primary and secondary school children. Northern Ireland Humanists has called for the same to be true in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Humanists will continue to campaign for an inclusive education system that ensures all students receive evidence-based teaching.