East Tyrone
12-31-2007, 06:58 PM
The lead article of today's Irish News illustrates the petty sectarianism of Unionist efforts to impede progress in education reform. This is based on a review, by education experts, of the annual reports of the five Education and Library Boards. The figures show that scare-mongering in regard to "postcode lotteries" is baseless. The article stated:
Almost every child is being admitted to his or her first-choice secondary school- casting doubt on fears of a 'postcode lottery' when the 11 plus goes.
It goes on to show that experts have dismissed the claims of Sinn Féin's critics:
experts are puzzled by such claims. They say nothing will change in the post 11 plus era- children can get into any school and will still be able to do so.
New statistics from the five education and library boards reveal that nine in every ten first preferance applications to post-primaries last year succeeded.
The statistics show that the Sinn Féin strategy is the correct one; there is no longer any need for the 11 plus. Scrapping the 11 plus will result in a much higher standard of education for all of our children and will significantly reduce the numbers leaving primary school with sub-normal numeracy and literacy skills. These children have traditionally been neglected in the system as 11 plus preperation has absorbed disproportionate teaching resources. The stigma of 11 plus failure is also an unnecessary burden to be placing on pre-adolescent children; particularly when the test no longer serves any usefull purpose.
Almost every child is being admitted to his or her first-choice secondary school- casting doubt on fears of a 'postcode lottery' when the 11 plus goes.
It goes on to show that experts have dismissed the claims of Sinn Féin's critics:
experts are puzzled by such claims. They say nothing will change in the post 11 plus era- children can get into any school and will still be able to do so.
New statistics from the five education and library boards reveal that nine in every ten first preferance applications to post-primaries last year succeeded.
The statistics show that the Sinn Féin strategy is the correct one; there is no longer any need for the 11 plus. Scrapping the 11 plus will result in a much higher standard of education for all of our children and will significantly reduce the numbers leaving primary school with sub-normal numeracy and literacy skills. These children have traditionally been neglected in the system as 11 plus preperation has absorbed disproportionate teaching resources. The stigma of 11 plus failure is also an unnecessary burden to be placing on pre-adolescent children; particularly when the test no longer serves any usefull purpose.