Parsley praises GCSE results

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 25th Aug 2005

Welcoming Northern Ireland's GCSE results, which in 2005 are once again the best in the UK, Young Alliance Chairman Ian James Parsley has congratulated teachers and pupils.

Speaking after a meeting on Good Relations in Holywood, the North Down Councillor stated, "Northern Ireland can be proud of its hard-working

schoolchildren, who have once again delivered a superb set of results.

"Whatever the arguments about 'dumbing down' of exams, I know pupils have worked extremely hard and these results, compared with those elsewhere in the UK, show that that work has borne fruit.

"We must not forget the teachers too, who while earning on average significantly less than in Great Britain have never the less overseen GCSE results that are the best in any region ever. This is a remarkable achievement for which they deserve every credit.

"What we must now do is deliver a peaceful and prosperous society in which our successful students will feel they can make a good living, without having to leave for elsewhere."

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Young Alliance is the youth wing of the Alliance Party, with nearly 60 members.