The Fostering Achievement scheme will provide foster carers in theprovince with advice and funding to improve the education of fosteredchildren.
It is managed by two charities, the Fostering Network and IncludeYouth.
In 2003, just 11 per cent of those leaving care in Northern Ireland gotfive GCSEs at grades A* to C compared with 59 per cent of all schoolleavers.
Kate Lewis, director of the Fostering Network Northern Ireland, said:"This scheme recognises that fostered children struggle, but this is away of doing something about it by empowering foster carers."
The scheme, which is unique to Northern Ireland, includes funding forequipment from computers to musical instruments, training for fostercarers on topics such as computer skills, and access to information andadvice.
Lewis anticipates that the scheme will help about 900 families.
She said: "This scheme considers education in its broadest sense. Wehave to encourage and inspire young people to achieve but academicachievement isn't everything. Access to sporting and musical equipmentwill help enhance self-confidence."
The Fostering Network has sent information packs to all foster familiesin Northern Ireland and a series of information sessions for socialworkers will be held over the coming months.
A recent survey by the Fostering Network found that computers were apriority for eight out of 10 respondents and up to 500 computers will beissued as part of the scheme.
Margaret Smith, who has been a foster carer for three-and-a-half yearsand has a nine-year-old foster son, Mark, said: "I think the scheme isgreat because it gives children a chance. We don't have a computer andMark has to go to the library to look things up so I have applied for acomputer and IT training for me," she said.
The scheme is part of a wider package of support for foster carers and a6m investment in foster care in Northern Ireland over the nexttwo years. As part of this, allowances for foster carers will beincreased in line with those in England and Wales.
Lewis said: "We welcome this investment in foster care, which is timelyand very important in terms of providing support to foster carers.
"However, this investment falls short of the 28m that we haveindicated is needed to modernise the foster care service and we willcontinue to lobby Government."
- www.fosteringachievement.net.
