Northern Ireland News - Education 'Policy' Could Ruin Ruane

01 February 2008

Education 'Policy' Could Ruin Ruane

The Northern Ireland Minister for Education may be subject to a vote of no confidence as a debacle over 11 plus reform continues to escalate.

As thousands await their 11 plus results throughout Northern Ireland, ministers are clamouring to criticise Caitriona Ruane’s performance in front of the Education Committee in Stormont, and her apparent engagement in confidential meetings discussing plans to delay the transfer test until the age of 14.

She came under a tirade of criticism from the DUP, SDLP and UUP and was accused of being an "abysmal and absolute failure" during her appearance in front of the committee.

The UUP's Basil McCrea was outraged, he said: "I want to know who she has been talking to and what she has said. We have also requested that she comes and talks to the committee in private session.

"If she does not agree to these requests then I will press for a vote of no confidence to be taken by the Assembly and would hope to obtain the committee's support for this."

DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson said she had treated the members with contempt and called her appearance "disgraceful".

Ms Ruane came under further fire after providing answers to 29 questions posed to her last month only minutes before her responses were due to be discussed.

During an interview on Radio Ulster, Ms Ruane said: "What happened yesterday was that the chairman of the education committee was playing politics with the education system."

Ms Ruane was appointed Minister of Education in May 2007, and has been planning an overhaul to the transfer system ever since.

(DW)