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Wednesday, 14 October 2009

School transfer talks 'productive'

Weekly meetings are to be held at Stormont to try and solve the selection test impasse.

Sinn Fein is boycotting the gatherings of the other four Assembly parties and maintains the 11-Plus is history.

But a compromise proposal from the SDLP called for a teacher-led expert panel to build a sustainable consensus on non-selective transfer.

The Alliance, UUP and DUP are expected to submit their plans by next week.

A joint statement said: "These preparatory talks have been very productive. A framework has been established for talks in the weeks ahead and the difficult process of building consensus on this unfortunately contentious issue has begun."

"From the discussion it is clear that there are significant areas of agreement between the parties present. We all share the concerns of parents, teachers and children, and are determined to find a resolution."

"We intend to meet on a regular basis to explore further common ground."

Children in Northern Ireland sat the last 11-Plus in November 2008.

Parties have yet to agree on a replacement.

Last Wednesday the Assembly voted narrowly in favour of commissioning a new version of the exam.

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane said she would not reintroduce any sort of academic selection.

Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd said: "The 11-Plus lobby need to understand their days of having an unhealthy influence in the corridors of power is over and done with, the 11-Plus is gone and their era is over."

He said the situation was ridiculous with the parties represented at the meeting proceeding minutes later to the Education Committee where they have been unable to find agreement.

'Common ground'

SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley said there should be a teacher-led expert panel tasked with building a sustainable consensus on non-selective transfer, whose recommendations the Executive and the Assembly would use as the basis for legally binding regulations from 2011 at the latest.

"This expert panel will outline a vision for our education system and implement a road map on how to get us there," he added.

DUP Education Committee chairman Mervyn Storey said the meeting was about finding a resolution.

"It is very clear from the meeting that we had this morning that there is common ground, what we have to do now is build on that," he added.

Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn organised the session.

"I am disappointed Sinn Fein didn't participate, they are perfectly welcome to join these talks at any time but perhaps for now the rest of us need to build a consensus."

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5 Comments

At 21:00 on 18 October 2009, seamas wrote:

Lor. I live in west Belfast and whilst I have a theoretical choice of many secondary schools for my girls it comes down to practicality and 2 schools, St Dominic’s and St Louisa’s. Both are very fine schools. The 11 plus screens primary pupils for St Dominic’s providing it with the most academically gifted. It does nothing whatsoever for St Louisa’s. The majority of primary school girls in the area will not be going to St Dominic’s so why should their primary schools and the Department of Education provide this screening service for it. Why should we as parents content ourselves with a system of secondary education that promotes selectivity and exclusivity for a minority at the expense of the majority. The existence of the 11 plus helps to perpetuate that system.

At 15:45 on 18 October 2009, lor wrote:

seamus. Going to a Grammar school does not make you a first class citizen many children of poorer families have been to grammar schools. In my family by your comment I would have two first class citizens and one second class.The only fair way to know which school they would do better at is for the tests.

At 18:31 on 16 October 2009, seamas wrote:

Des. The 11 plus provided a screening service for grammar nothing more nothing less. The majority of our schools and therefore the majority of our school children are non grammar so why should the whole primary system be expected to facilitate a process designed to elevate a few lucky ones. Keeping the 11 plus in place recognises a special position for grammar schools and therefore helps perpetuate a two tier education system. 2nd class seats belong on trains not in classrooms.

At 15:19 on 15 October 2009, Gordon wrote:

why is it that your interviews are carried out at RC schools are thre no STATE schools that are effected by the mess that SF minister has put our education system in seems to me that as usual the RC schools are crying loudest and as usual they are being heard. There are two religions here in NI and afterall the state chools should be looked after as well I AWAIT YOUR REPLY

At 07:16 on 15 October 2009, Des Meredith wrote:

Sinn Fein and Caitriona Ruane took a very undemocratic decision when she abolished 11+. Most parents agree 11+ wasn't a brilliant solution, but it did work as a selection tool. Caitriona's cavalier attitude 'my way or no way' is demonstrative of the Sinn Fein attitude to democracy. However Sinn Fein are now 'lifting the ball and walking away' by not participating with other parties in offering a solution to the fiasco created by their minister. Democracy means working with others to provide solutions for the electorate, who after all voted you in.