EDUCATION – BBC: Ruane proposals before executive 15/05/08 [NI]
The education minister is to bring her proposals for the future of primary school transfer to the executive amid claims they are unworkable.
Caitríona Ruane has warned of dire consequences if they are not agreed.
The minister’s plans have been criticised by grammar schools who said their acceptance of them would be “like turkeys voting for Christmas”.
Frank Bunting of teachers’ union, INTO, said the plan was a sensible and pragmatic roadmap out of the impasse.
Last December, Ms Ruane announced the transfer test, commonly known as the 11-plus, would come to an end in 2008.
Her plans include a temporary extension of academic selection for “a transitional period”.
INTO is in favour of non-selective education, but gave the proposals a guarded welcome.
‘New tests’
Mr Bunting said: “Teachers and parents favour incremental change. The proposed three years transitional arrangements offer the opportunity for a more unifying debate to take place on transfer to post-primary education.
“It is an opportunity which the educational community will largely appreciate and hopefully the opportunity will not be spoilt by political squabbling and point scoring.”
It is understood the executive is keen to find a compromise.
A proposal to extend testing at age 11 would need legislation passed and the minister has warned of an “unregulated future”, where schools run their own entrance tests.
Ms Ruane is to propose a form of testing to continue for three years, but there will be a limit on the number of pupils grammar schools can take on that basis.
It is believed the minister could commission new tests which encompass broader educational areas than the current transfer test.
These tests would be developed and marked by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment, continuing for about three more years.
The meeting of the executive is expected to begin on Thursday afternoon.
It is understood there may be an attempt to set up a sub-committee to look into the issue.
