Lunn backs unions' criticism of breakaway exam

12.05.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 30th Jun 2008

Alliance education spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA

Alliance education spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA has backed the criticism by the Ulster Teachers Union and the Irish National Teachers Organisation of the attempts by the Association for Quality Education to set a breakaway exam for grammar schools. Both unions have said that it would be wrong for schools to spend part of their budget on this exam instead of on teaching pupils.

Trevor Lunn said: "This criticism by both the Ulster Teachers Union and the Irish National Teachers Organisation further shows that this proposed replacement for the 11-plus does not have widespread support.

"I support their calls for schools' budgets to be spent on educating children instead of being spent on an unfair exam to replace the 11-plus.

"What the Association for Quality Education is doing is to cause further confusion in the debate. The Alliance Party has stated its support for pupils choosing their academic path at age 14, when will Caitronia Ruane state her department's plans?

"Hopefully with schools beginning their summer holidays today, the Minister will be spending this time attempting to sort out the issues."

ENDS