By Rosetta Donnelly

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane this week pledged to do her utmost to provide a first rate future for Tyrone children.

Speaking to the UH, the Minister shrugged off criticism her academic selection proposals have faced and urged local parents to study them and then make up their own mind.

The interview came in the wake of a turbulent debate at the Assembly's Education Committee last Thursday which has left the Executive facing the sternest crisis since its foundation.

Ms Ruane urged people here not to be taken in by 'sensationalist media' reports of the debate, and assured people academic selection is on the way out and that nothing can change this.

"What people need to understand is that there are 50,000 empty desks at schools here, and there are 12,000 children leaving school without English and Maths qualification and this is unacceptable. This is the reality of the situation and that is what we need to deal with," she explained.

Despite the fact the minister appears to have made something of a 'U-turn' on her previous decision to wipe out academic selection from the end of this year, Ms Ruane insists her concession to allow a three year transitional period is in response to concerns raised during the consultation period.

"I don't believe in academic selection," she stated, "and I have made it clear that is my preferred option. However, I have listened to educationalists over the last few months and have agreed this way forward for the next three years."

The minister explained how this will be a transitional period, during which some schools, if they choose, may use academic selection on a limited basis. "This will be on an a declining basis," Ms Ruane explained. "50 per cent of students can be chosen in this way in 2010, falling to 30 percent in 2011, and 20 percent in 2012. Come 2013 and there will be no academic admissions.

"Then children will change school at 11. This will be based on the 'Entitlement Criteria' which can vary between schools, but will come from a menu of criteria which includes if a child is the eldest or they have a sibling at the school; their geographical location, etc."

Reacting to the criticism levelled at her over the delay in bringing forth her proposals on academic selection, Ms Ruane said that she had a huge task ahead because of undoing decades of educational traditions. "There were people who don't want change regardless of what area of life, and in education there was a very vocal lobby. This often drowned out what other more rational people were saying. I said I was going to consult and I did and these are my proposals following that process."

Referring to the grammar schools such as the Omagh Academy, Srabane Grammar and Royal School, Dungannon – three of a number of which are doing their own 11+ independent testing – Ms Ruane said, "They are doing their children a huge dis-service. She added that Boards of Governors could be sued by pupils now and in the future over the judgement calls they are making.

I would ask them to fully re-consider what they are doing as they will not be able to get support for any legal action which will undoubtedly be mounted".

The Education Minister rejected the notion that the education portfolio was like being given a poisoned chalice. "I love my job and at the start when ministries were being divided up we could have had the Department of Trade but we chose education and I have never regretted it. Education is the single way of bringing about maximum change," she said.

Ms Ruane said she has developed a thick skin. "You would need to have it in politics; that is not to say some of the remarks hurt, they do when they are personal".

Despite facing opposition from most of her Assembly colleagues, the Education Minister is not for backing down. "Let's take it one step at a time. I am very disappointed with how the Executive responded to my proposals. But not changing is not an option. I am going to bring about changes and I would rather it was in an regulated manner than in an unregulated way."

"I met with the teachers' union and they have given me their support for these proposals, so to have the churches and much of the business community understands there is a need for change.

"People need to be clear: I am ending academic selection. Not changing is not an option," she concluded.