11+ Showdown Looming

As a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 11+ 'bandwagon' continues to roll across Northern Ireland spreading the news of the party's own options to fill the alleged 'vacuum' left by the Executive Education Minister's axing of the traditional transfer test - Sinn Fein is reported to be fighting back.

The party is considering bypassing the whole Assembly to introduce a controversial new school transfer system in place of the 11-plus.

The Belfast Telegraph is reporting exclusively today that a leaked Sinn Fein briefing paper has been passed to them by Basil McCrea, Education Spokesman for the Ulster Unionist Party, which outlines the possibility of new admissions criteria being issued to schools by Education Minister Caitriona Ruane in the form of 'guidance' - so avoiding any requirement for 'approval' at the Assembly.

Against a background of public meetings across the Province, led by local MLAs and the DUP's Sammy Wilson - who chairs the Assembly's Education Committee and who is a long-time critic of the Minister, Catriona Ruane - Sinn Fein is quoted as saying that any grammar school which ignores the new guidelines and continues to select pupils based on their academic ability would have to finance their own entrance tests and any appeals which result from this.

The stage seems to be set for a showdown on the issue, as the DUP proposal hinges on limiting access to grammar schools to pupils who reach a high academic standard.

There's also further controversy looming - as the Belfast Telegraph is also reporting - that Ulster Unionist Leader and Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey said he would withdraw his department officials from a new process to plan for schools on a regional basis if the Executive does not quickly determine a joint position on education.

"The Minister is just intending to do her own thing and I am not prepared to lend my name to a process which is drifting us into what I believe is a disastrous situation for the future of our schools."

Sinn Fein intends to use the Department of Education's power with existing legislation to force schools to come into line.

However, the party education spokesman Paul Butler told the newspaper: "This is a briefing paper outlining the factual position relating to post-primary transfer at this time.

"It is no secret that the Minister Caitriona Ruane has sought to achieve the maximum consensus among stakeholders, educationalists and political parties on the way forward. She is currently concluding this process.

"When this happens the Minister will bring forward detailed proposals on the way forward within the framework set out in her December statement to the Assembly."

(BMcC)