SF ‘directed 11-plus responses’
Simon Doyle, Education Correspondent
459 words Publication date: 22 May 2009
Source: The Irish News Page: Pg. 9
(c) 2009, The Irish News Ltd. All Rights reserved.
Sinn Fein urged members and supporters to respond in their thousands to a consultation on the education minister’s transfer reforms – even telling them what to say.
Respondents were asked to claim they appreciated that after scrapping the 11-plus, Caitriona Ruane’s proposals for a new system of transfer were a compromise.
Others were told to suggest that it was “outrageous that Catholic principals are working to a DUP agenda”.
Ms Ruane brought forward proposals in the form of guidance after the executive had failed to agree a plan to abolish academic selection.
She has asked all schools to operate non-academic admissions criteria only, but almost every grammar looks set to introduce entrance tests.
The guidance was issued for consultation for 12 weeks and ended on April 27.
It has now emerged that Sinn Fein wanted to give its minister the chance to say she had the backing of the majority of respondents.
Days before the consultation deadline, an email was sent by party adviser Grainne Maskey to members asking them to respond in support of Ms Ruane.
“Each party member should make a submission and encourage friends/ relatives/community groups etc to do the same,” the email read.
“These do not have to be long winded letters but should state clear support for the minister and the ending of academic selection.
“We are aiming for thousands.”
Members were urged to respond using phrases including “it was wrong to put so much pressure on 10 and 11 year olds” and “the test was unfair and interfered with teaching in P6 and P7″.
Previous education ministers, however, have dismissed such campaigns saying that consultation does not mean the same as referendum.
Some of the other “suggestions for consultation responses and letters to the minister” included:
- the grammar school lobby and some school principals are feeding a culture of fear and insecurity among both parents and children
- it is outrageous that some Catholic school principals appear to be working to a DUP agenda
- how can the bishops allow the Catholic grammar schools to engage in academic selection of pupils and to exclude children from disadvantaged backgrounds?
- it is good to have someone prepared to stand up for the less able, the vulnerable and children with special needs
- the DUP and grammar schools refused to work towards a compromise
The email also contained attachments of four different letters of support for the minister, with members required only to add their name, address and signature.
Ms Ruane said: “I welcome all responses to the consultation for Transfer 2010 Guidance and all responses will be considered.
“A summary of the responses will be included in the consultation report.”
Sinn Fein made no comment.