By Conor Sharkey
SCHOOLTEACHERS in Strabane have given a cautious welcome to this week's announcement by Education Minister Catriona Ruane that the 11+ will be scrapped next year.
In a seven page document released on Tuesday, Mrs Ruane said that from September 2009, the Transfer Test would cease to exist and that pivotal decisions on the educational future of pupils would instead be taken at 14.
Mrs Ruane went to great lengths to voice her opposition to the 60-year-old 11+ system, which she described as 'outdated' and 'unjust'. However the Minister's plans with regards to just what alternatives will be put in place when pupils make the move to post-primary education in the future remain vague.
Pupils transferring to secondary education in 2010 will be able to choose their schools in a similar fashion to the way primary and pre-schools are chosen. Where school's are over-prescribed however, criteria including family members already at the school and the geography of the school will be taken into account.
Mrs Ruane added that it may take Grammar schools some time and assistance to adjust to the new system, however if they chose to operate their own academic selection arrangements, her department was under no obligation to assist with funding.
Principal of Strabane PS, David Canning said that while he was glad to see the back of academic selection at 11, Mrs Ruane's reforms still did not provide equality for all pupils.
"Initially, some of the questions we asked as teachers were over whether primary five pupils would face assessment. That isn't going to be the case and we are happy with that and I doubt if anyone will lament the end of the 11+.
"When the 11+ ends, we are told that it could come down to what school family members attended and geography. I believe that will disadvantage rural areas. People who live in towns will be closer to a number of schools, therefore those living in the countryside will come second.
"Mrs Ruane is putting a lot of emphasis on equality of opportunity but when you go for geographical criteria, there is no equality in rural areas," Mr Canning said.
Meanwhile, principal of St Mary's Boys PS, John McGinley said Strabane was in a stronger position than most to deal with the reforms with the imminent opening of the new Holy Cross College.
"I always believed it was a flawed system of examination. There are so many other factors at 11, or in some cases ten years of age, that it cannot give an accurate assessment of ability. I would welcome the abolition in its present form but there will have to be some form of mature progression.
"At St Mary's, we have been involved in the revised curriculum where primary one children are experiencing a range of activities instead of just reading. This is because we believe there is a range of intelligence and there are different styles of learning.
"When the changes come into being, we in Strabane will be better placed than most to deal with them because of our new all ability College. I welcome the abolition of the 11+, but the question now is what do you replace it with."
Mr McGinley asked.
The Catholic Council for Maintained Schools (CCMS) also voiced their support for the direction in which Mrs Ruane intended to take post-primary education in Northern Ireland.
"The changes being proposed are necessary to ensuring social and economic development by creating some of the conditions necessary for reducing the poverty gap and linking educational outcomes more closely to emerging economic needs.
"The vision outlined must help young people prepare for their futures by building on the excellence of our schools and teachers to meet the challenges in the 21st Century. Council considers that the Minister's statement is the beginning of that journey," a spokesperson said.
