The core issue of how children move into post-primary education has been buried in the petty politics of personality surrounding Minister Caitríona Ruane's efforts to scrap the 11-plus. In the maelstrom of bitter unionist opposition, and the minister's repeated indignation, we risk losing sight of the children.

The issue is no longer whether the minister can find agreement for phased withdrawal of the transfer test; it is whether she can continue in a ministry in which her attempts to commandeer an outcome are compromised by personal attacks and her apparent inability to win consensus. And while it is a shocking pity that opponents of change recklessly disregard the plight of children terrorised and scrapped by a system of elitism, it is time Sinn Féin faced reality.

Politically, this looks more and more like meltdown and it raises doubts that Ruane could be linked with Conor Murphy as the new team of Republican leaders. It has been mooted that the Murphy/Ruane duo would score points in mixed doubles: male and female, South Armagh and Mayo, ex-IRA prisoner and social activist recruit. For Sinn Féin, it was a dream ticket to relaunch the Ireland of Equals. Now, the ticket is tainted and the longer Ruane remains a fun-fair target for the DUP, the more damaged it becomes.

Lack of confidence in her is spreading and not just because the SDLP sees a way of scoring one on Sinn Féin. Even those who support scrapping the 11-plus despair of this minister's ability to deliver. Any hope that she could simply walk in and finish the job started by Martin McGuinness is dead in the water.

For a party that is as perceptive on the "optics" as on the substance, the reluctance to shift ministers may suggest that Ruane's projection to leadership was more advanced than most were aware. Yet Sinn Féin's options for a musical chairs transfer are still there. Conor Murphy has been competent and proactive in Regional Development, as has Michelle Gildernew in Agriculture and Rural Development. The balance of male and female could even be maintained by elevating an MLA with a real education background, such as retired teacher Claire McGill.

Drift is no more an option than the chaos that looms over opposition to change. Sinn Féin still has the ball in its court but its star player now risks losing game, set and match.