Ruane faces 11-plus detail demand

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Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has faced criticism in the assembly over her plans to reform the way children transfer from primary school.

Ms Ruane said last week the 11-plus would end in 2008 with pupils deciding their next move at the age of 14.

On Tuesday, she spelled out how places in over-subscribed schools would be allocated, saying it would be the same system as already used in many schools.

Some MLAs criticised the lack of detail in her statement last week.

Although she was supported by Sinn Fein colleagues, the SDLP, which also wants to abolish academic selection, said there were "too many questions unanswered".

READ MINISTER'S STATEMENT <a class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/04_12_07visionforeducation.PDF">Vision for Education [56KB]</a> Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here</a> <a class="" href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/7126557.stm">Ruane abolishes 11-plus</a> Dominic Bradley of the SDLP accused Ms Ruane of reheating slices of half-baked ideas.

Sammy Wilson of the DUP said parents still had no idea what would happen after 2009.

He said the minister had ignored the political reality that her plans would not get cross-community support.

Ms Ruane defended her statement last week, saying it was an "early briefing". She said she would bring more detailed proposals to the assembly in the new year.