Ruane now faces double trouble

Education

Thursday, May 15, 2008

By Kathryn Torney

Caitriona Ruane was today facing a double set-back with strong opposition emerging to her plans for a new school transfer system and to the new single education authority.

The Education Minister was this afternoon due to present her proposal to phase out academic selection from schools in Northern Ireland to the Executive.

However, the DUP and Ulster Unionists have already confirmed that they will reject the suggestion to allow grammar schools to select 50% of their pupils based on their academic ability in 2010, 30% for the intake in 2011, 20% in 2012 and for academic selection then to be banned completely from 2013.

Basil McCrea, Ulster Unionist education spokesman, said that his party plans to use today's meeting to push for the establishment of a ministerial sub-committee to look at the issue and report back before the end of next month.

The DUP's Sammy Wilson said that the proposals "simply amount to a three year delay in the introduction of all ability comprehensive school system in Northern Ireland".

However, Frank Bunting, from the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) argued that the arrangements offer a sensible and pragmatic roadmap forward from the current impasse and called for the opportunity not to be spoilt by "political squabbling and point scoring".

Sinn Fein education spokesman John O'Dowd said: "For the first time the various parties will be able to sit down and give their reflective view on the proposal. Let's see what comes out of this."

It can also be revealed today that the Minister's intention to establish a new single education authority by April 2009 is hanging in the balance.

The DUP and Ulster Unionists have told the Belfast Telegraph that they do not support draft legislation for the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA). Her handling of this issue is also being seriously questioned by the SDLP.

The ESA Bill is due to be discussed by the Executive next week.

The Education Minister will face a major crisis if the future of both an 11-plus replacement and rationalisation of education administration are left in limbo.

SDLP education spokesperson Dominic Bradley said that his party's support for the ESA Bill will depend very much on major guarantees being available from the Minister on important issues on which her position remains unclear — including local accountability and how the authority's performance will be assessed.

Ms Ruane will appear before the Assembly's education committee tomorrow and is likely to face tough questioning from her fellow MLAs.

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