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11/03/2002
UUP education team criticise Burns promotional video
The Ulster Unionist Party’s Assembly Education Committee team has described the promotional video on the Burns proposals for post-primary education as “seriously flawed”.
In a joint statement, Danny Kennedy, Tom Hamilton and Ken Robinson said they believed the video did not give a balanced view on the real issues affecting education in Northern Ireland.
Instead they said, the video comes down heavily in favour of the abolition of academic selection.
The 300-page report by the Post Primary Review body, chaired by Gerry Burns, suggested the 11-plus test be scrapped within two years and replaced with a collegiate system.
Mr Kennedy said: “There is a clear imbalance in the video and little substantial criticism of Burns in respect of his proposal on a new collegiate system. In stead the video is a promotional tool for those who favour the establishment of ‘bog standard’ comprehensive education in Northern Ireland and as such it is clearly tarnished.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on education, Gerry McHugh however said he thought the video explained the essence of the Burn’s report very well.
The Burns review of Northern Ireland's education system, published last October, recommended an end to the controversial 11-plus transfer test.
The exam, used as a selection test for pupils in primary seven, determines the type of school to which children will transfer.
(AMcE)
In a joint statement, Danny Kennedy, Tom Hamilton and Ken Robinson said they believed the video did not give a balanced view on the real issues affecting education in Northern Ireland.
Instead they said, the video comes down heavily in favour of the abolition of academic selection.
The 300-page report by the Post Primary Review body, chaired by Gerry Burns, suggested the 11-plus test be scrapped within two years and replaced with a collegiate system.
Mr Kennedy said: “There is a clear imbalance in the video and little substantial criticism of Burns in respect of his proposal on a new collegiate system. In stead the video is a promotional tool for those who favour the establishment of ‘bog standard’ comprehensive education in Northern Ireland and as such it is clearly tarnished.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on education, Gerry McHugh however said he thought the video explained the essence of the Burn’s report very well.
The Burns review of Northern Ireland's education system, published last October, recommended an end to the controversial 11-plus transfer test.
The exam, used as a selection test for pupils in primary seven, determines the type of school to which children will transfer.
(AMcE)
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