03/10/2003
Minister agrees to short extension for post primary group work
Education Minister, Jane Kennedy today agreed to give the Post Primary Working Group an extra month to complete its work.
The Group, which will now report to the Minister at the end of November 2003, is currently working on post primary proposals such as the scrapping of the 11 Plus examinations.
Responding to a written request from the Working Group Chairman, Steve Costello, the Minister said: "We all want to end the present uncertainty about future arrangements and I have impressed upon the Chairman the importance of the Working Group’s advice being submitted to me at an early date.
"It remains my intention that the current Transfer Tests should be ended as soon as practicable, but we will want to consider carefully the recommendations from the Working Group before making any longer-term decisions. However, for children currently in P5, parents and teachers can be reassured that they will be advised in good time of the arrangements that will apply."
In his letter seeking the extension, the Chairman has assured the Minister that the Working Group has made good progress and is committed to fulfilling its remit.
(MB)
The Group, which will now report to the Minister at the end of November 2003, is currently working on post primary proposals such as the scrapping of the 11 Plus examinations.
Responding to a written request from the Working Group Chairman, Steve Costello, the Minister said: "We all want to end the present uncertainty about future arrangements and I have impressed upon the Chairman the importance of the Working Group’s advice being submitted to me at an early date.
"It remains my intention that the current Transfer Tests should be ended as soon as practicable, but we will want to consider carefully the recommendations from the Working Group before making any longer-term decisions. However, for children currently in P5, parents and teachers can be reassured that they will be advised in good time of the arrangements that will apply."
In his letter seeking the extension, the Chairman has assured the Minister that the Working Group has made good progress and is committed to fulfilling its remit.
(MB)
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