11-plus proposals 'nothing new'

The last 11-plus test was held in November 2008

Education Minister Caitr�ona Ruane intends to bring proposals on replacing the controversial 11-plus exam to the Executive on Thursday.

Sinn F�in sources said Ms Ruane wanted to "move forward decisively".

Ms Ruane is expected to again suggest a phased end to academic selection over the next three years.

The chair of the Assembly's education committee, DUP MLA Mervyn Storey, said the proposals were unlikely to find broad support at the Executive.

"It's not a compromise, it's a continuation of the minister's current position and we're seeing nothing new here.

"The minister is bringing forward the same old failed proposals as she did 18 months ago," said Mr Storey.

"These proposals, she knows and her party knows, will not find acceptance at the Executive on Thursday."

Sinn F�in Education spokesperson John O'Dowd said "sectarian and party-political point-scoring" needed to be set aside.

"It is now time for clarity and a decision on replacing the 11-plus," he said.

"There has been a prolonged and extensive consultation with stakeholders and political parties. But parents, teachers and children need a clear decision. It is now time to bring the discussions to a conclusion."

Criteria

As Ms Ruane opposes academic selection, it is believed her proposals could include criteria such as the distance a child lives from a chosen school.

However, the DUP said a memo circulated by Ms Ruane does not recognise that academic selection is safeguarded in law which makes the chances of an Executive agreement on the matter extremely slim.

Many grammar schools in Northern Ireland have threatened to hold their own independent tests to preserve academic selection.

BBC NI Political Editor Mark Devenport said that with unionists still in favour of retaining academic selection, it was unclear at this stage whether they would even want to discuss the minister's latest proposed regulations.

Some politicians, parents and teachers are concerned that there is still no final plan for what will replace the controversial exam next year.

More than 15,000 Primary Seven children sat Northern Ireland's final 11-plus exam on Friday 21 November 2008. They are due to receive their results in February.

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