Northern Ireland's outgoing education minister has said he hopes his decision to abolish the 11-plus test will be upheld after devolution is suspended.

Martin McGuinness was speaking during ministerial question time at the assembly on Monday, before it is suspended by the Northern Ireland secretary at midnight.

The Sinn Fein minister announced on Friday that the 11-plus would be abolished by 2004, as it became apparent that direct rule from Westminster would be reimposed by the government because of the political crisis.

He said there was overwhelming support for the abolition of the test and he was determined the public desire to get rid of it would not be thwarted by political developments.

Martin McGuinness: "I have the right to make this decision"

Speaking in the assembly on Monday Mr McGuinness said: "I am within my rights to take this decision. It is about the future of our children and moving forward.

"I hope that whoever manages the department of education will be guided by the very important decisions that have been taken."

Mr McGuinness decided to abolish the 11-plus following a major consultation process on the Burns review of the transfer system for pupils' from primary to secondary-level education.

However, he did not propose a new transfer system to replace the 11-plus test.

'Opportunism'

Ulster Unionist education committee member Ken Robinson said the minister's move was "an act of political opportunism and educational folly".

He said: "The decision by Martin McGuinness to abolish the transfer test before an acceptable alternative has been identified is political and shows the bully boy mentality of the Sinn Fein minister.

Tom McKee NASUWT: "We owe it to children to end this system"

"This diktat, which was made late on a Friday night, smacks of totalitarianism and displays a total lack of consideration for pupils, teachers and parents."

A previous report recommending the scrapping of the 11-plus was shelved in 1971 because the then devolved assembly was suspended.

Meanwhile, two of the province's teaching unions expressed their support for Mr McGuinness's decision.

Tom McKee of the NASUWT said: "The consultation has gone on for two years on this issue. There is concern that children are going through a selection system which is demonstrably flawed.

"We owe it to the children to stop this as soon as possible. My only regret is that it has to continue for another two years."

Ray Calvin: "Uncertainty for pupils and teachers"

Ray Calvin of the Ulster Teachers Union said he was worried the uncertainty about what would happen would negatively affect both pupils and teachers.

He said: "Whatever happens I would implore those who are making decisions to have a thought for the youngsters first of all.

"And secondly, to have a thought for the teachers who must prepare those youngsters for whatever procedure is used in the end of the day."

However, DUP assembly member Sammy Wilson accused the minister of ignoring the results of a survey that he had commissioned.

"Perhaps he can explain why the last act that he has done as minister has simply reinforced the view that he is duplicitous and deceitful."

Tempers have flared over the Burns proposals, which include scrapping academic selection, using pupil profiles to help parents choose a school for their child and clustering schools together in collegiate.

Grammar schools are against the Burns proposals and have argued for the retention of some sort of academic selection.

They want the right to choose pupils of the highest ability. However, other educationalists feel the plans are not radical enough.