Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Education divide ‘greater than before test scrapped’
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
The inequalities in education are now greater than they were prior to the scrapping of the 11-plus test, it has been claimed.
South Belfast SDLP councillor Bernie Kelly said the vacuum created by the lack of a workable alternative transfer system has thrown the lives of thousands of primary seven school children into disarray.
Ms Kelly, who has more than 20 years experience in social work, commented just days before more than 7,000 children sit their first Association of Quality Education (AQE) exam on Saturday and less than four weeks before we take thousands of signed Belfast Telegraph’s Sit Down, Sort It Out petitions directly to the politicians at Stormont.
We will hand the first batch of signed petitions to members of the Assembly's education committee on Saturday, December 5 — the same day thousands of young people sit the last test set by the AQE.
We will be joined by a delegation of teachers, parents and young people at Parliament Buildings to hand over the thousands of signatures collected by then. Everyone is welcome.
Ms Kelly continued: “I supported the removal of academic selection, but the gaps created by the current minister by simply removing the transfer test have now led to an untenable situation for many families.
“Our children are now stuck in education limbo, relying on high-cost tutoring and private exams. This is further segregating those in poverty who cannot afford the help.”
She urged Education Minister Caitriona Ruane to take action.
“The education system is in chaos and causing great stress for pupils, parents and teachers,” she said.
“The long-term impact of this apparently stalled transformation process cannot be underestimated. Children need clear parameters and routine to help them build confidence at such a crucial age. The last thing they need is instability, uncertainty and lack of clarity. The wreckage of the education system by Caitriona Ruane will have repercussions for years to come.”
Thousands of people have added their name to our campaign which demands Executive talks to resolve the stalemate.
Representatives of the SDLP, UUP, DUP and Alliance Party have been taking part in weekly meetings but Sinn Fein has so far boycotted these talks.
More than 13,700 registrations have been received for the exams being set by 68 schools across Northern Ireland — against guidance issued by Ms Ruane.
More than 7,000 children are registered for the Association for Quality Education (AQE) tests in 34 schools in Northern Ireland. They can sit up to three papers — one this Saturday, the others on November 28 and December 5. The best two scores count.
Another 6,000 pupils will sit the GL Assessment Test organised by the Post Primary Consortium. They will sit two multiple choice papers, one for English the other Maths, in 34 schools on November 21, with supplementary tests on December 12 for those who missed the November 21 test due to illness for example.
Would you like to join us to hand over petitions to the education committee? Email ktorney@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
- Text Size
.
Catriona Ruane often puts forward the fact that very few children from the Falls and Shankill Road go to schools in South Belfast as a reason for scrapping selection. What is the chance of that happining now? She claims that she wants to improve social mobility yet pushes parish as a basis for selecting a school. Why did she choose a Grammar School for her daughter? As somebody from the Falls Road who benefited from a Grammar School education I am frustrated by her confused contradictions.
Posted by Frustrated P7 Father | 12.11.09, 17:00 GMT
The Minister has just declared the selection debate over on Radio Ulster. So thats it, a two tier education system divided along religious and class lines, best of luck to everybody stranded in the non selective system. The middle classes now have the grammars entirely to themselves. Effectively the birth of "private" schools in Northern Ireland. Lets see how results go from here. GCSE results five or six years from now will be the first proof of this Minister's folly.
Posted by Mark | 10.11.09, 10:27 GMT
South Belfast SDLP councillor Bernie Kelly and Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane have at least one thing in common - they are both opposed to academic selection and the 11-plus.
Ms Kelly, like many politicians trapped in the headlights of parental wrath, are attempting to extricate themselves from a situation of their creation.
Has Bernie now, like Professor Tony Gallagher and the Ashfield Secondary headmaster accepted the principle of academic selection? Or is Bernie being wheeled out instead of her party leader in an attempt to have it both ways on academic selection?
Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 10.11.09, 08:20 GMT