There will be an entrance exam on November 21st next to select children for the vast majority of Catholic Grammars according to the Catholic Heads Association. Twenty eight leading grammars have said they will use the exam based on English and Maths papers and more are expected to follow in the coming days.
This bring to three the total number of different exams children could face to get a grammar place. A true sign that deregulation has failed and that the Minister for Education, Caitriona Ruane MLA, is now presiding over a slowly unfolding crisis of unprecedented proportions.
Showing posts with label Caitriona Ruane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caitriona Ruane. Show all posts
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Monday, 30 March 2009
Catholic Commission issues statement
Ten years after the Good Friday Agreement a Sinn Fein Minister has delivered the ultimate act of educational segregation and division with the effective creation of a Catholic 11plus and a Protestant 11plus.
The BBC reports that The Commission for Catholic Education has given the go-ahead for Catholic grammar schools in Northern Ireland to set entrance exams.
However, it has also restated its position that academic selection of any kind should end by 2012.
Some Catholic grammar schools have said they will set entrance exams in the absence of an official test. The commission said that in the absence of a regulated system of transfer, academic test may be appropriate in the short-term, particularly for those post-primary schools which are oversubscribed.
NICCE chairman Bishop Donal McKeown said: “This is a clear statement from the Catholic trustees that academic selection at age 11 has no place in a modern education system.”
The commission stressed that Catholic schools which opt to use the tests must ensure they do not discriminate against any child, avoid a multiplicity of tests and should be used for only a limited period of time.
The church has been trying to keep the support of Catholic parents who want their children to go to a grammar school but who could choose to leave the sector and apply for non-denominational grammar schools instead.
Today’s decision is an honest act on behalf of the Catholic Commission to show some leadership on this issue. It will however do nothing to prevent the inevitable chaos which will now ensue. It is a dark day for politics and a total indictment of Caitriona Ruane’s stewardship as Education Minister.
The BBC reports that The Commission for Catholic Education has given the go-ahead for Catholic grammar schools in Northern Ireland to set entrance exams.
However, it has also restated its position that academic selection of any kind should end by 2012.
Some Catholic grammar schools have said they will set entrance exams in the absence of an official test. The commission said that in the absence of a regulated system of transfer, academic test may be appropriate in the short-term, particularly for those post-primary schools which are oversubscribed.
NICCE chairman Bishop Donal McKeown said: “This is a clear statement from the Catholic trustees that academic selection at age 11 has no place in a modern education system.”
The commission stressed that Catholic schools which opt to use the tests must ensure they do not discriminate against any child, avoid a multiplicity of tests and should be used for only a limited period of time.
The church has been trying to keep the support of Catholic parents who want their children to go to a grammar school but who could choose to leave the sector and apply for non-denominational grammar schools instead.
Today’s decision is an honest act on behalf of the Catholic Commission to show some leadership on this issue. It will however do nothing to prevent the inevitable chaos which will now ensue. It is a dark day for politics and a total indictment of Caitriona Ruane’s stewardship as Education Minister.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Bishops expected to make statement on Monday
The Catholic Bishops are expected to make a statement on the future of transfer next Monday. The Bishops have strongly favoured a non-selective system and are not believed to be about to change their mind. There is however major concern about the crisis which has been triggered by the Minister's unilateral decision to introduce a deregulated system. I would not be surprised if the working group calls for an interim state exam for a year or two whilst a long term resolution is found.
Many senior educationalists now believe it is time for the sector to reach agreement on the way forward. Politics has clearly failed and others are going to have to step in and make an effort to provide a road map out of this mess.
One thing for sure. The true extent of this crisis will not hit home to many of our MLA's until next year when parents realise the flaws of a deregulated system and demand action to fix it. Things may get an awful lot worse before they get better.
Many senior educationalists now believe it is time for the sector to reach agreement on the way forward. Politics has clearly failed and others are going to have to step in and make an effort to provide a road map out of this mess.
One thing for sure. The true extent of this crisis will not hit home to many of our MLA's until next year when parents realise the flaws of a deregulated system and demand action to fix it. Things may get an awful lot worse before they get better.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Ruane is Alice in Wonderland
I have just listened to Ministerial Question Time in The Northern Ireland Assembly with Caitriona Ruane MLA.
During her answers she claimed that the primary curriculum will not be distorted this year because of the ending of the 11plus and that children across the North will NOT spend time in the coming academic year preparing for a test.
This is an unbelievable statement and plainly misleading. True, there will be no state exam but fact is there is already the AQE exam and there will most likely be a Catholic sector exam to select children for grammar schools.
In fact the situation is potentially worse then at any point in the past as children may well have to sit a "Catholic 11plus" and a "Protestant 11plus". All deregulated.
How long will this Assembly let this Minister continue to live like Alice in Wonderland?
During her answers she claimed that the primary curriculum will not be distorted this year because of the ending of the 11plus and that children across the North will NOT spend time in the coming academic year preparing for a test.
This is an unbelievable statement and plainly misleading. True, there will be no state exam but fact is there is already the AQE exam and there will most likely be a Catholic sector exam to select children for grammar schools.
In fact the situation is potentially worse then at any point in the past as children may well have to sit a "Catholic 11plus" and a "Protestant 11plus". All deregulated.
How long will this Assembly let this Minister continue to live like Alice in Wonderland?
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Education Minister rejects selection proposals
The BBC reports today that the education minister has rejected calls to allow a temporary replacement for the controversial 11-plus exam.
At a special session of the assembly's Education committee on Tuesday, Caitriona Ruane stood by her decision to cancel plans for an interim test.
She had been lobbied by parents' groups and politicians who want an official academic test to run for a few years.
They argued an official test would avoid the likelihood of unregulated tests by the grammar schools.
Mrs Ruane warnd: "Any test operating outside such legislative support is a legal minefield as those within some grammar schools who are proposing this approach are now finding out."
Chairman of the committee Mervyn Storey accused the minister of threatening schools and teachers.
He told the minister her tenure would be judged for "bringing about confusion, division and further segregation".
Ms Ruane said she was disappointed that the committee had failed to send her their own proposals and that its members could not reach consensus.
She denied threatening schools but said a small number were "blocking change".
The final 11-plus was held in Northern Ireland schools last November.
Many Catholic grammar schools have announced they will set independent tests, while more than 30 state schools say they will continue to use academic selection against Ms Ruane's wishes.
At a special session of the assembly's Education committee on Tuesday, Caitriona Ruane stood by her decision to cancel plans for an interim test.
She had been lobbied by parents' groups and politicians who want an official academic test to run for a few years.
They argued an official test would avoid the likelihood of unregulated tests by the grammar schools.
Mrs Ruane warnd: "Any test operating outside such legislative support is a legal minefield as those within some grammar schools who are proposing this approach are now finding out."
Chairman of the committee Mervyn Storey accused the minister of threatening schools and teachers.
He told the minister her tenure would be judged for "bringing about confusion, division and further segregation".
Ms Ruane said she was disappointed that the committee had failed to send her their own proposals and that its members could not reach consensus.
She denied threatening schools but said a small number were "blocking change".
The final 11-plus was held in Northern Ireland schools last November.
Many Catholic grammar schools have announced they will set independent tests, while more than 30 state schools say they will continue to use academic selection against Ms Ruane's wishes.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Minister to declare war on the grammar sector
The Irish News (subs needed) reports today that the Education Minister Caitriona Ruane is set to punish grammar schools that go ahead with selection tests by restricting funding to them and forcing them to accept only the very best results.
The newspaper reports on the merits of this move and argues that it would put it up to the grammar sector to focus on their academic ethos whilst proving popular with the secondary sector because it will lead to more funding for those schools.
What the article does not address is the fact that this is just making a very bad situation worse.
Firstly by taking such a step the Minister would be copper fastening a selective process at eleven, the one thing she clams she wants to remove. It could also have effect of creating a two speed education system with grammars allowing 'paid for' places effectively turning them into semi-private schools whilst the secondary sector relies wholly on public funding.
What we need is political leadership on this issue not kite flying and leaking to the press from those who support the Minister and the grammar lobby.
The newspaper reports on the merits of this move and argues that it would put it up to the grammar sector to focus on their academic ethos whilst proving popular with the secondary sector because it will lead to more funding for those schools.
What the article does not address is the fact that this is just making a very bad situation worse.
Firstly by taking such a step the Minister would be copper fastening a selective process at eleven, the one thing she clams she wants to remove. It could also have effect of creating a two speed education system with grammars allowing 'paid for' places effectively turning them into semi-private schools whilst the secondary sector relies wholly on public funding.
What we need is political leadership on this issue not kite flying and leaking to the press from those who support the Minister and the grammar lobby.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Minister answers Assembly Questions
The Minister for Education, Caitriona Ruane, answered MLA's questions in the Assembly yesterday. Alan McParland MLA (UUP) and Dominic Bradley MLA (SDLP) attempt to get the Minister clarify what steps she intends to take to move out of the present crisis.
Saturday, 14 February 2009
The future of Catholic education?
The Catholic Church has been regularly criticized for its lukewarm attitude to integrated education. In particular, the Church authorities have always made clear their opposition to transformation, that is, the right in legislation for parents to vote to change a school to integrated status. In consequence only controlled schools have transformed since 1989. The argument the Catholic authorities have always advanced against transformation is that a school belongs to a community, not to a particular group of parents, and that therefore it is wrong for the interests of a particular group to over-ride the interests of a wider community. Now, whether you accept this argument or not, it suddenly seems weaker. In the impasse over the future of academic selection some Catholic grammar schools have announced their intention to continue selecting on the basis of tests and many more are expected to follow. This is despite the clear acceptance by the Catholic Bishops of the need for an end to academic selection at 11 on social justice grounds. In an attempt to restore some coherence to the Catholic sector, the Bishops have asked a group of secondary and grammar principals to seek agreement on a way forward. If they fail and some or most of the Catholic grammar schools go their own way, then we may be witnessing the end of the Catholic education system in any meaningful sense of the term.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Where to from here?
We are back at square one in every possible way following Minister Ruane's statement to the Assembly yesterday. By allowing a free for all she has effectively returned Northern Ireland to the place it was at before the 1947 Education Act. Then it was money that talked and children from affluent homes had a huge advantage over those from working class backgrounds.
The 11 plus was the ticket into education for many working class Catholics and Protestants in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Nobody disputes that the world has moved on and that the 11 plus no longer serves the purpose it was meant to. That is why all the parties in the Assembly agreed that it should go. Where they differ is on what replaces it.
Several months ago the four main churches came together to propose a way forward which might be capable of commanding political support but was also based on sound thinking.
In their statement the clerics said primary school children were picking up on their parents confusion about what would happen when the 11-plus ends.
“It is clear that there are strong yet unreconciled convictions about the best system of education for the future. Each viewpoint seems to cancel out the other and, in the absence of consensus, we risk heading to an abyss of unregulated arrangements.”
Calling on politicians to do the job they are being paid to do, the statement continued:
“We ask our politicians, and others, to stand back from established positions and to create the space necessary so that, through dialogue between those with different outlooks, the best way forward may be found for all children.”
That we find ourselves in this place is a tragedy of unspeakable terms. In Tim McGarry’s words at the end of BBC Hearts and Minds in November; “Sarah Palin is the only person in the world who makes Caitriona Ruane look like a competent politician.”
My son is one of 30,000 P5 and P6 students now in educational limbo. They deserve better from their Minister and from the Executive. These millennium kids were born into great optimism and hope, the promise of new North with a shared future.
The 11 plus was the ticket into education for many working class Catholics and Protestants in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Nobody disputes that the world has moved on and that the 11 plus no longer serves the purpose it was meant to. That is why all the parties in the Assembly agreed that it should go. Where they differ is on what replaces it.
Several months ago the four main churches came together to propose a way forward which might be capable of commanding political support but was also based on sound thinking.
In their statement the clerics said primary school children were picking up on their parents confusion about what would happen when the 11-plus ends.
“It is clear that there are strong yet unreconciled convictions about the best system of education for the future. Each viewpoint seems to cancel out the other and, in the absence of consensus, we risk heading to an abyss of unregulated arrangements.”
Calling on politicians to do the job they are being paid to do, the statement continued:
“We ask our politicians, and others, to stand back from established positions and to create the space necessary so that, through dialogue between those with different outlooks, the best way forward may be found for all children.”
That we find ourselves in this place is a tragedy of unspeakable terms. In Tim McGarry’s words at the end of BBC Hearts and Minds in November; “Sarah Palin is the only person in the world who makes Caitriona Ruane look like a competent politician.”
My son is one of 30,000 P5 and P6 students now in educational limbo. They deserve better from their Minister and from the Executive. These millennium kids were born into great optimism and hope, the promise of new North with a shared future.
Children's Commissioner expresses concern
The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children has expressed her fear that children will suffer increased anxiety as a result of the school transfer chaos.
The Commissioner said that both sides of the transfer debate have become embroiled in a argument that has left pupils and parents confused over what was the best way to transfer to post-primary education.
“Parents want the best possible schooling for the children, and pupils want the school were they will be happiest.”
Ms Lewsley said there was a small window of opportunity to resolve the confusion.
“I urge both sides to remember that this debate is about children’s education. They have enough anxiety transferring to the ‘big’ school without the current situation adding to it.
“I am not going to say which side is the best option for children, but I urge all concerned to ask children what they want.
“The best people to ask are the children who have recently experienced the transfer and who are about to transfer can help this process.
Ms Lewsley said she would be writing to the Minister urging her to consult with children over her current proposals.
The Commissioner said that both sides of the transfer debate have become embroiled in a argument that has left pupils and parents confused over what was the best way to transfer to post-primary education.
“Parents want the best possible schooling for the children, and pupils want the school were they will be happiest.”
Ms Lewsley said there was a small window of opportunity to resolve the confusion.
“I urge both sides to remember that this debate is about children’s education. They have enough anxiety transferring to the ‘big’ school without the current situation adding to it.
“I am not going to say which side is the best option for children, but I urge all concerned to ask children what they want.
“The best people to ask are the children who have recently experienced the transfer and who are about to transfer can help this process.
Ms Lewsley said she would be writing to the Minister urging her to consult with children over her current proposals.
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