Kennedy meets UUP and Alliance to discuss education

Direct-rule education minister Jane Kennedy has held separate meetings today with representatives of the Ulster Unionist and Alliance parties to discuss a range of educational issues.

Ms Kennedy discussed the review of post-primary education with Danny Kennedy, Roy Beggs and other representatives of the Ulster Unionist Party, and later with Eileen Bell and David Ford from the Alliance Party.

Speaking after the meetings, Ms Kennedy said: “I was glad to have the opportunity today to discuss current education issues with local politicians. The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss the Review of Post-Primary Education with both parties. As I recently announced, the Transfer Tests will be abolished as soon as practical. I want to build on consensus and the Review of Post-Primary Education will be taken forward with the aim of developing new, fairer arrangements that will raise standards and provide an education system fit for a modern society.”

Welcoming a commitment from Ms Kennedy to consult with his party over the Education and Libraries Bill, UUP MLA Danny Kennedy said: “The Minister was receptive to our views on a wide range of education matters and agreed that she would consult with us before the Education and Libraries Bill is published as a Draft Order in Council.

“On the Burns Report we also reinforced out belief that academic selection will continue to form an important part of the selection process and that we expect to be consulted in full during ongoing deliberations on this issue.”

However, Mr Kennedy hit out at what he called "the chaos created by the former Minister’s decision on the abolition of the 11-plus examination" and the timescale of November 2004 which he described as being "completely unrealistic".

He concluded: “We impressed on the Minister that a suitable alternative could not be in place by that date and she intimated that although that might be the target date it was not set in stone.”

The meetings, which were requested by the respective political parties, were held this afternoon at Castle Buildings.

(MB)