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Education Minister rejects calls to enter talks on transfer issue

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

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Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has rejected calls to join cross-party talks on school transfer tests, branding them an attempt to save academic selection.

The Sinn Fein minister faced questions in the Assembly yesterday from rival parties calling on her to take part in their discussions on finding an alternative to the minister's immediate scrapping of the 11-plus test.

The talks were instigated after the Belfast Telegraph launched its Sit Down, Sort It Out campaign, encouraging all political parties to work together to find a solution to the transfer debacle.

But Ms Ruane said removal of the exam was long overdue and she produced a 45-year-old newspaper clipping promising 11-plus reform by the then unionist-dominated Stormont government.

The minister said she had put transfer arrangements in place and told the Assembly there was no future for an exam she said discriminated against children.

“I had to take action. I am the Minister of Education for all children, not just a small minority,” she said. “I have to make sure that all our children are treated with equality and with respect.

“The 11-plus is gone, the 11-plus is not coming back, nor is any alternative in terms of examining children.

“There is no need for the testing of children. It does not happen in the rest of Ireland at 10 years of age, it doesn't happen in England, Scotland or Wales and it doesn't happen throughout Europe and the United States.

“Now, please, let's not waste any more time on this issue.”

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where does this minister live? the 11+ is gone but academic selection at 10 survives.

Posted by Mark | 04.11.09, 11:31 GMT

“The 11-plus is gone, the 11-plus is not coming back, nor is any alternative in terms of examining children."

Well Ms Ruane, perhaps you haven't heard of wee tests called AQE and GL?

“Now, please, let's not waste any more time on this issue.”

Im terribly sorry you feel like your job is a waste of time. Not exactly the best example of work ethic to be setting teachers and children.

I do hope anyone who was thinking of voting sinn fein will think again.

Posted by Annoyed | 03.11.09, 17:21 GMT

In those areas of England and Wales that retain selection at 11, such as Kent, only some 25% of children transfer to grammar schools. In Northern Ireland, given the numbers entering the various "privatised" transfer tests, it is likely that just under 50% of 11 year olds will end up in grammar school. Indeed, two grammar schools in North Down have effectively "reserved" a significant number of places for their preparatory department pupils irrespective of how they perform in the test. What does this say about the protestations of the grammar lobby about wanting to maintain "academic excellence"? More importantly, what impact will this have on the viability of the non-grammar secondary schools?

Posted by Terry | 03.11.09, 16:26 GMT

“The 11-plus is gone, the 11-plus is not coming back, nor is any alternative in terms of examining children."...

“Now, please, let's not waste any more time on this issue."...

Oh the sheer arrogance of this woman.

Posted by Merry | 03.11.09, 14:02 GMT

this is one area where everyone one agrees we want this sorted out ruane by not sitting down to at least discuss it ,might as well be on the moon ,where her head seems to be, i can only think this will cost sinn fein votes, and the new sdlp will benifit

Posted by liam | 03.11.09, 14:02 GMT

Fact: all schools don’t currently provide the same standard of education. Fact: those that do, Grammar or Secondary will be over-subscribed. Fact: I want my child to go to a good school. Fact: In my area, the only credible option is Grammar. Fact: she will sit the tests to give her a chance to go to one. Fact: she understands that if you work hard you can reap rewards and that learning is fun. Fact: The minister is solely to blame for this mess. Fact: My child is disadvantaged under her guidance as I work. As far as I am concerned, these are the facts – a generation of abandoned P7 children by our own Department of Education. I hope the parents of the 13,500 students sitting these tests who feel the same show this when it comes to the next elections. May I wish all those sitting the tests well.

Posted by Low Paid P7 mother | 03.11.09, 13:25 GMT

I agree with the minister (yes, believe or not a lot of people do). The notion that you can somehow objectively measure innate academic ability at age 11 (if such a thing even exists) with a dopey 2 hour test is clearly nonsense. It is probably a more reliable measure of the incomes of parents.

As tax payers we should be entitled to a public education system that provides equality of opportunity and a quality education for all children not just a privileged few. The abolition of the eleven plus is welcome first step towards this worthy objective.

Posted by P7 Parent | 03.11.09, 13:17 GMT

Caitriona says 'Never Never Never!' then?
Now where have I heard that before? Let me think.........

Posted by T J McClean | 03.11.09, 10:00 GMT

Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 03.11.09, 09:30

'The pertinent question Merry is why the DUP or UUP have failed to take the Education Ministry on successive occasions.'

Good point.

Posted by T J McClean | 03.11.09, 09:57 GMT

Instead of wishing away real concerns over the chaotic education landscape The pertinent question Merry is why the DUP or UUP have failed to take the Education Ministry on successive occasions. The DUP must make a commitment to take the Department of Education after the next election or risk losing votes.

Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 03.11.09, 09:30 GMT

It's nice to see Ms Ruane thinks talking about my children's education is a waste of time. She needs to look to her 'Every school a good school 'promise and the fact that every school is not a good school, until she fulfils this promise she shouldn't be scrapping the only means of getting into a good school. I wish she would see sense and admit she acted in haste on this matter. There is a need for some form of selection to ensure the places in the favoured schools go to those who have earned them. Life can be tough and competition is fierce in every area and to bring up our children believing you just get handed rewards will take away their desire to work hard and do their best as they will develope the attitude of "why bother, you get the reward anyway". What is she going to say when the results take a nose dive because the driven schools no longer have the children with the drive or capability to succeed academically? She will be happy I suppose, as everyone will be equal.

Posted by rm | 03.11.09, 09:23 GMT

I truly wish Sinn Fein were NOT at the helm of education in this country - it was always their intention to destroy the past excellent working model and if it is not taken out of this woman's hands soon it is well on it's way to being so.

Posted by Merry | 03.11.09, 07:31 GMT

Has it not become clear to Education Minister Ruane that her efforts to stop academic selection at 11 have failed? The existence of unregulated testing by grammar schools for entry are legal. The fact that the Minister is spending so much of her time and the taxpayers' resources on attacking the private sector 11-plus alternative raises questions on her focus and ability to carry out her publicly funded functions. No one from government is telling Tesco how to run their business within the law.

Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 03.11.09, 07:18 GMT