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Parties vow to resolve schools transfer turmoil

...but Sinn Fein still wants no part of it

By Kathryn Torney
Thursday, 15 October 2009

Four of Northern Ireland’s political parties have responded to the Belfast Telegraph’s Sit Down, Sort It Out campaign by signalling that they will work together to resolve the schools transfer debacle.

However, Sinn Fein has risked further political isolation by refusing to take part in talks towards possible agreement on a new transfer system.

Following the meeting at Stormont's Parliament Buildings yesterday, the SDLP, Alliance Party, UUP and DUP all pledged to take part in weekly meetings in a bid to reach consensus on a new system to replace unregulated transfer and independent testing by schools.

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ruane had the chance to sit with dignity and negotiate ,for the childrens sake ,only her own over valued sense of worth ,stood in her way she has cheapened peoples opinion of her and her party,maybe they will want to talk to thier electorate when next they want votes, i would suggest to nationlists vote sdlp at least they are approachable and have morals

Posted by w. gould | 17.10.09, 13:38 GMT

Andrew, the 11+ wasn't perfect, nobody said it was, but it was much better than the chaos surrounding education at the moment, I know kids that are sitting five exams, because no provision or thought went into Sinn Fein's actions.

There are also parts of Sinn Fein's selection criteria that I fundamentally disagree with, they have a socialist agenda that is being forced on us, that is not democracy, it is dictatorship and it is no way to lead a country, why do you think Sinn Fein are failing so miserably in the south of Ireland, because at the last elections they were shown to have no policies or ideologies that made sense to the people of Ireland with regards economics, health or education.

I want to see full devolution of policing and justice, but if the education fiasco created by Sinn Fein is anything to go by, then I am very worried for all of our futures. The vast majority of people see Ruane and her policies as a complete failure, yet she still refuses to listen.

Posted by Steven73 | 15.10.09, 12:33 GMT

When extremists on either side are running our government this is the type of farce we're guaranteed to get.

I've not seen much genuine debate happening, just a bunch of political dinosaurs pressing the same old tribal buttons. There's a big emphasis in the media on Ruane being the 'problem' but the reality is that every MLA on the hill is responsible for the current uncertainty. It's their lack of imagination, their inability to comprehend other viewpoints and their wilful intransigence that have lead us up this particular garden path.

Posted by Farrah | 15.10.09, 11:59 GMT

Andrew
If the 11-plus is gone could you please explain why 13,737 pupils plan to take 11-plus tests in the coming weeks. The plan to abolish the 11-plus has failed yet again. Get used to it.

Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 15.10.09, 11:58 GMT

Andrew the 11 plus is over but some form of Academic selection is here to stay until the assembly decides otherwise, as per the St Andrews agreement, that's what there is to talk about.

Posted by Mark | 15.10.09, 11:17 GMT

This is not even a green/orange issue and 'our' politicians cannot deal with it.
They are fighting and squabbling about policing and justice, whilst meanwhile, back at the ranch, most people are more concerned with their childrens education!
Did SF spend any of 'our' £2,000,000 on 'researching' the choas in childrens lives their actions and/or lack of actions would cause?
Peter, tell them they can have Policing and Justice if they give us back our education system.

Stephen

Posted by Stephen | 15.10.09, 11:01 GMT

Andrew
She was put there by the people she has to lisen to the people,
never always blaming the Unionist.

Posted by Des | 15.10.09, 10:45 GMT

Who says it's over? Certainly not the parents of the thousands of children sitting the unregulated test.
What about choice? What about parents deciding? What about the concept that a child's parents might know better than Ruane about their own kids?
The 11+ system may not be perfect but it certainly produced results to 'A' level! Let's improve it and not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Stephen

Posted by Stephen | 15.10.09, 07:59 GMT

andrew if i disagreed with you we could discuss it if your argument prevailed i would admit it such is democracy ruane has been asked by everybody right across the spectrum to sit and talk she refused the people in her own district asked her to sit down she refused, on the nolan show when calls were about to be put through to her guess what she refused and ran this lady onless you agree with her does not want to know it was her party said talking was better so i ask again when is she going to talk and listen

Posted by w. gould | 14.10.09, 17:26 GMT

While im no SF voter Mr O'Dowd made some very valid points regarding an attempt to compromise which was refused point blank by Unionist parties. What more is there to discuss? The 11+ is over, the sooner people get their heads round the fact the better. It was an archaic system which had to go. Of course issues around Education should be voiced in the forum of the Assembly and the Education commitee. This campaign quite frankly is a waste.

Posted by Andrew | 14.10.09, 12:09 GMT