Education sector needs leadership
420 words
Publication date: 31 March 2009
Source: The Irish News
As the education sector faces an unprecedented level of uncertainty over post-primary transfer, the Catholic Church has put forward proposals that it hopes will offer a clear pathway for schools and parents.
The Church set up a working group in February in response to the increasing concern and confusion that surrounds the arrangements for moving children from P7 to secondary level from next year.
With the 11-plus officially abolished and proposed interim tests abandoned by the minister, the grammar sector has moved to fill the vacuum, with a number of schools offering a range of selection tests to children in the autumn.
As this part of the education system slides towards chaos, it is not surprising that parents and teachers of P6 pupils are experiencing high levels of anxiety.
A coordinated approach is certainly needed, although once a number of Catholic grammars signalled their intention to run their own admission tests, it would have been unrealistic to expect Catholic education authorities to take a radically different way forward.
Indeed, while the statement from the Commission for Catholic Education yesterday emphasised that it is opposed to academic selection at age 11, it recognised that a test may be appropriate in the short term.
It also took the view that the test should be based on English and Maths, rather than the verbal reasoning tests some schools had chosen.
However, the commission urged the minister, Caitriona Ruane, to find an agreed solution on post-primary transfer, which is something parents and teachers would strongly support.
Although the proposals brought forward require more detail and discussion, given the decisions taken by a number of schools and the lateness of the hour in terms of planning, a temporary test would appear to be the best option. Ideally, this would be organised and run by the Department of Education. Otherwise there remains the risk of fragmentation, inconsistency, unfairness and legal challenge.
The reality is that the education system is changing at a fast rate.
We have already seen grammar and secondary amalgamation and more are likely, while some schools will end up making their own arrangements.
It is also important to recognise, as Cardinal Brady did yesterday, that grammars may not always be the best place for some children, who will have their needs better met at secondary schools.
However, while we move through these challenging times, it is even more essential that teachers and parents know that change is being properly regulated and managed at a government level.