McGuinness updates Assembly on post primary debate

The Education Minister Martin McGuinness has updated the Assembly on the current stage of consultation on post primary arrangements.

The Minister said he was encouraged to note that debate had shifted from whether change was needed to what kind of change is required.

Following the publication of the Burns post primary review in October last year, the issue of academic selection has emerged as a major sticking point.

To date, the Northern Bishops, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools the five main teacher unions, the Vice-Chancellors, Further Education Principals, have all backed calls for the end of academic selection.

However the grammar group, which represents the Governing Bodies Association, has failed to back the end of the transfer test with chairman Finbar McCallion resigning last week over the issue.

Speaking to the assembly the Minister said a meeting had been arranged with the Governing Bodies Association.

“The GBA has given a commitment to identify an acceptable method of happily matching pupils to schools,” he said. “This is a positive and responsible approach, but time is moving on and no proposals have yet been produced. If the GBA has been able to develop acceptable proposals, I would urge them to be made available for public scrutiny as soon as possible and before the end of the consultation period.”

Speaking about the consultation on post-primary arrangements the Minister said: “The massive scale of this consultation reflects the importance of this issue. I want to stress that no decisions have been taken about the Burns proposals and the choice is not between the Burns proposals in their entirety or nothing. I have invited comments on Burns, suggestions for modifications to Burns, or suggestions for alternative approaches.”

“The challenge for all of us is to acknowledge that change is necessary and to build the maximum possible consensus on new arrangements which will be fair for all children, whatever their background or circumstances; which will raise standards for all pupils; and which will provide a modern education system fit for the 21st Century.”

(AMcE)