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Meeting follows selection plans Ruane hears principals' concerns
(about 8 hours later)
Education Minister Caitríona Ruane is to meet with Catholic grammar school principals to discuss their plans to keep academic selection. Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has held talks with Catholic grammar school principals on their plans to retain a form of academic selection.
On Tuesday, the Catholic Heads Association said they wanted to select future pupils using a test. The Catholic Heads Association had accused the Department of Education of offering "limited leadership".
The association said schools had been given "limited leadership" on the issue by the Department of Education. They made no comment after the talks, described as constructive by Ms Ruane.
Ms Ruane said academic selection was wrong and that she was "determined to continue to pursue a course to end it". "I am convinced that academic selection is both wrong and immoral and I am determined to continue to pursue a course of action to end it," she said.
Last December the minister announced that the test, commonly known as the 11-plus, would come to an end in 2008.Last December the minister announced that the test, commonly known as the 11-plus, would come to an end in 2008.
Sarah Kelly principal of Thornhill College in Londonderry, said the associations plan would ensure a regulated system is put in place. Speaking after Wednesday's meeting, Ms Ruane said: "I agree that the education sector needs breathing space to prepare for the change, that is why my compromised proposals include a three-year transition period."
"We are horrendously upset at not having criteria in place," she said. One grammar school principal earlier told the BBC that the uncertainty was causing problems and the Catholic Heads Association's plan for testing would ensure a regulated system was put in place.
"We see a huge chaotic system opening up in front of us of appeals and parents distraught and upset. This chaotic situation will give rise to more of that." Sarah Kelly, principal of Thornhill College in Londonderry, said head teachers were "horrendously upset at not having criteria in place".
However, the minister said she remained committed to phasing out academic selection over the next three years. "We see a huge chaotic system opening up in front of us of appeals and parents distraught and upset. This chaotic situation will give rise to more of that," she added.
"What I would say to them is consider very carefully your action because we have to build a system fit for the 21st century," she said.
"I'm opposed to academic selection, but in order to provide some breathing space, I did bring forward proposals for a three year diminishing academic selection plan."
The meeting between the minister and the Catholic Heads Association will take place on Wednesday.