Minister confirms plans to abolish 11-plus exams

Education Minister Martin McGuinness has today announced his intention to abolish the 11-plus Transfer Test.

The Minister confirmed his intentions in a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly this morning.

While confirming the abolishment of the test, Mr McGuinness said that next year would see the last-ever sitting of the test. He said: “To ensure that schools, parents and pupils know where they stand, I can confirm that the Transfer Tests will take place in November 2003. Those pupils who are currently in P6 will therefore sit the tests next year and will transfer to post-primary education under the current arrangements in September 2004.

“While the Transfer Tests must be held next year for practical reasons, I want to make it clear to this Assembly, and to the people, that the Tests have no place in the future of education here.”

The Minister also went on to identify three key messages that were heeded when finally deciding to abolish the tests.

“Firstly, there is widespread demand for change. The Transfer Tests skew the primary curriculum, cause stress for children and damage their self-esteem. The current system fails to provide equality of opportunity for all children and is not adequate or acceptable for the future," he said.

“Secondly, there is an obligation on all of us to focus on the needs of the child as a learner. Children develop at different rates and have a wide range of talents, aptitudes and learning abilities. New post-primary arrangements must offer parents and pupils a wide range of curricular options, promote parity of esteem for all curricular choices and pathways and provide flexibility between them.

“Thirdly, there is an emerging consensus on key issues, which provides us with a platform on which to build new arrangements.”

However, UUP Assembly member Danny Kennedy criticised the minister for effectively abolishing the 11-plus examination without outlining a workable and acceptable alternative.

Mr Kennedy said: “I am disappointed that the minister has adopted a high-handed approach and continues to pursue a failed political ideology which has been rejected by the vast majority of parents and teachers in Northern Ireland.”

The Minister plans to meet in November with all the main education partners to listen to their views on how best to take forward the Review of Post-Primary Education.

Mr McGuinness said that he intends to announce his proposals in December detailing the way forward, including how the Transfer Tests will be abolished at the earliest possible date.

(MB)