Educational Vandalism must be stopped
I am delighted with the very successful launch of the Save our Children's Education campaign at the Town Hall on Tuesday 24th January. The follow up will be in the form of petitionions which I hope will endorse the fact that a large percentage of the population and indeed teachers do not accept what the Minister is forcing upon this country with regard to our children's future in education.
I feel we are now at an absolutely critical point in he whole debate on the Costello proposals. The Minister has virtually ignored her own consultation and the views of the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. She has now published a Draft Education Order, and article 28 of that Order specifically prohibits schools - including grammar schools - taking any account whatsoever of aptitude or ability when admitting pupils. This will enshrine the Costello proposals in our Northern Ireland education law.
That will inevitably lead to a comprehensive system of education; to admissions being on the basis of post-codes; to grammar schools as we know them disappearing; to a reduction in the present very good standards being achieved by pupils in Northern Ireland. And to reduced parental choice. When parents realise they cant get their children into the schools which they want and which would suite them there is going to be a very sharp reaction indeed. In short implementation of the Ministers proposals has the potential to be an education disaster and an administrative nightmare.
That is why North Down is mounting this campaign. It represents perhaps the last chance to stop the Minister wrecking our fine education system. If we can present her with a massive vote against her proposals she may finally see sense. There is no hiding ground on this issue; no possibility of simply abstaining ; no saying I am not sure. Any of those reactions will be seen as a vote for the Ministers proposals and their inevitable consequences.
It is important to stress that our absolute opposition relates to the very narrow way in which the Minister has drafted this particular legislation. She has simply left no room for maneuver. Most of us accept that the present transfer arrangements are well past their sell-by-date. Some change is therefore necessary. But any new arrangements must allow for flexibility and ensure that there is some way of matching what any school can offer to the aptitude and ability of the pupils.. There is still an opportunity to explore how that could be achieved - but not if the wording in the present Draft Order becomes law. That is why we are appealing for a massive vote for our petition.
I feel we are now at an absolutely critical point in he whole debate on the Costello proposals. The Minister has virtually ignored her own consultation and the views of the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. She has now published a Draft Education Order, and article 28 of that Order specifically prohibits schools - including grammar schools - taking any account whatsoever of aptitude or ability when admitting pupils. This will enshrine the Costello proposals in our Northern Ireland education law.
That will inevitably lead to a comprehensive system of education; to admissions being on the basis of post-codes; to grammar schools as we know them disappearing; to a reduction in the present very good standards being achieved by pupils in Northern Ireland. And to reduced parental choice. When parents realise they cant get their children into the schools which they want and which would suite them there is going to be a very sharp reaction indeed. In short implementation of the Ministers proposals has the potential to be an education disaster and an administrative nightmare.
That is why North Down is mounting this campaign. It represents perhaps the last chance to stop the Minister wrecking our fine education system. If we can present her with a massive vote against her proposals she may finally see sense. There is no hiding ground on this issue; no possibility of simply abstaining ; no saying I am not sure. Any of those reactions will be seen as a vote for the Ministers proposals and their inevitable consequences.
It is important to stress that our absolute opposition relates to the very narrow way in which the Minister has drafted this particular legislation. She has simply left no room for maneuver. Most of us accept that the present transfer arrangements are well past their sell-by-date. Some change is therefore necessary. But any new arrangements must allow for flexibility and ensure that there is some way of matching what any school can offer to the aptitude and ability of the pupils.. There is still an opportunity to explore how that could be achieved - but not if the wording in the present Draft Order becomes law. That is why we are appealing for a massive vote for our petition.
posted by Marion Smith at 2:04 AM
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