Following restoration of devolution in May, the Northern IrelandExecutive took on the task of seeking agreement on new arrangements foradmissions to post-primary schools.
A spokesman for the Department for Education in Northern Ireland saiddiscussions were now under way about whether school admissions should beacademically selective or non-selective. The executive's minister foreducation Caitriona Ruane, a member of Sinn Fein, is opposed toselection.
"Our minister for education doesn't agree with selection, but differentparties are for and against. We are looking at this issue but nodecision has been made," said the spokesman.
Peter Scott, teachers' union NASUWT's executive member for NorthernIreland, welcomed any changes to the current selection procedure. "Weare opposed to the present procedure which allows for selection on thebasis of academic performance," he said. "Testing at age 11 is divisiveand it is not appropriate to separate children at that age. We await thefinal arrangements. Although the education minister is committed todoing away with the selection procedure, the assembly committee isdivided on the issue."
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