Ruane urged to keep 11-plus until alternative is chosen

The North's Education Minister Caitriona Ruane today faced calls to retain the 11-plus transfer test until a proven alternative is identified.

Extending the life of the controversial selection exam, which is due to be axed next year, would help to ease parental concern about the ongoing political impasse over the future of post-primary transfer procedures, according to the Ulster Unionists.

While the Sinn Féin minister has proposed the phasing out of academic selection over the next four years, using a newly designed test during that period, she has yet to gain the backing of the Assembly, with unionists fiercely opposing her.

With no agreement in place, current year six pupils still don’t know for certain how they will transfer to secondary education.

While Ms Ruane hopes the interim test designed by exam board CCEA will be in place for 2009, a number of Protestant and Catholic grammar schools have signalled their intent to go it alone and introduce their own entrance exams.

Ulster Unionist Education spokesman Basil McCrea (Lagan Valley) today tabled a motion before the Assembly urging Ms Ruane to keep the 11-plus in place until a resolution is found.

“Neither I nor my party wish the 11-plus to remain in place beyond such a limited time,” he said.

“We know that it is a far from perfect test. But it has the virtue of having been in place for a considerable period of time, with teachers and parents well used to it, and both the primary and post-primary sectors prepared for its use.”

He said it did not make sense to try to introduce the CCEA test without having properly piloted and tested it.

“Teachers and parents of Year 6 children want – and need – certainty about the post-primary transfer procedure their children will face,” he added.

“It is the duty and responsibility of the Education Minister to deliver that certainty.

“Instead of certainty, however, the minister has delivered anxiety, unease and the threat of chaos. Three months into the present Year 6, parents and teachers still – still – do not know what transfer procedure children will face next year.”

Last week the four main churches in Northern Ireland called on politicians to reach an agreement and proposed a selection exam at the age of 14 as a possible compromise solution.