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Bishops back academic selection Principals back selection tests
(41 minutes later)
Academic selection should continue, Catholic principals and bishops have said. Academic selection should continue, according to a body which represents Catholic grammar school principals.
In a statement they criticised the "limited leadership" being given to schools. The Catholic Heads Association said schools had been given "limited leadership" on the issue by the Department of Education.
Education Minister Caitrona Ruane wants to phase out selection within three years. The statement said the lack of progress in this caused "apprehension." They also said a lack of progress had "caused apprehension".
It also urged schools to use tests set by the CCEA exams body, rather than unregulated selection tests. Education Minister Caitriona Ruane said academic selection was wrong and added that she was "determined to continue to pursue a course to end it".
"The statement from the Catholic Heads Association sets out what is patently obvious, that the best option is regulation - that is what I have spent my time in office trying to bring about," she said.
"Towards that end, I brought forward compromise proposals which included academic selection on a diminishing basis over a three year period. This was an attempt to introduce a breathing space.
However, the principals said a lack of direction and political progress on the issue of academic selection had led to the probability of an unregulated transfer test system.
"Until the appropriate legislation is in place, we propose that academic selection will continue to take place, preferably using the CCEA test which the Minister has commissioned," they said.
"We simultaneously must seek consensus, across all sectors, in order to ensure that proper pathways are provided for all our young people.
"At this point in time we believe that a breathing space is required to ensure that the necessary planning takes place to optimise opportunities. Until such time as a secure, agreed and reliable means of transfer can be put in place academic selection should continue, for the entire intake."