Schools shun Sinn Fein meeting in Larne
SINN Fein described its first public meeting in Larne as "electric at times", but "cordial".
However, the republican party's spokesman in east Antrim, Oliver McMullan, did not try to hide his disappointment at a low turn-out by educationalists.
The Moyle councillor and North Eastern Education and Library Board member said he had written to 53 schools in the area, inviting them to be represented at last Tuesday's meeting in the leisure centre, which was addressed by Sinn Fein member of the Stormont education committee John O'Dowd. Few of the schools were represented.
DUP Assembly member Alastair Ross, meanwhile, has highlighted what he regards as a more notable absentee, asking why Sinn Fein Education Minister Caitriona Ruane was not present and claiming that she was "too scared to come and sell her education proposals to the people of Larne".
Mr McMullan, who chaired the meeting, estimated an attendance of 30-40 people, most of them parents.
"It was a very constructive meeting and we had a very lively question-and-answer session. I have to commend those people who attended and put their questions, which is nothing less than you would expect of caring and concerned parents. Many were parents of children in P6 who will be taught the revised curriculum and I cannot overstate the need for schools to begin teaching the revised curriculum".
Much of the debate centred on what will happen after the 11-plus is ended. Mr McMullan claimed, "It's clear that the information that is being provided by the Department of Education is not being filtered through to the parents."
He added, "I thought that at least the educationalists in the area would have turned up to question us because there is so much mis-information in the public domain at the present time."
Ms Ruane has proposed that in September 2010 no more than 50 per cent of P7 children will transfer to secondary education based on academic selection, with the percentage declining in subsequent years and academic selection being abolished altogether by 2013. At age 14 students would decide which vocational and/or academic subjects they wish to pursue.
The minister's opponents in the Assembly maintain that academic selection is here to stay. Mr Ross insisted this week, "The debate over academic selection is over. It is here to stay and there is nothing that she can do to change that.
“It is now time that she constructively engaged with the other parties at Stormont to decide on an alternative to the 11-plus exam and give parents and pupils peace of mind that there is certainty in the education system.”
Headded, “Months ago Sammy Wilson and I addressed an audience of parents, pupils and teachers in Larne leisure centre, outlining the legal reality that academic selection was safeguarded and put forward our own proposals for the way forward.”
He claimed Sinn Fein had come to Larne “in a belated effort to sell their education proposals to the people of East Antrim”, and asked, “Why did the Minister not come herself to face the parents and pupils who are in a state of anger and confusion over her dithering and party political posturing?”
UUP MLA Roy Beggs Jnr rejected Ms Ruane’s contention that there was clarity on selection. “That is not what parents of primary school children and teachers are saying,” he argued.
“People are coming to me and I am unable to give them any direction as the minister has failed to share her plans with politicians, teachers or the parents”
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Weather for Larne
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 2 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: South
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Light rain
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