Nick Mathison MLA, the Alliance Party's Education Spokesperson and Chair of the Education Committee, has strongly criticised the Education Minister's newly announced qualification reforms. Mathison argues that the decision to abolish AS Level qualifications and move toward a linear A Level structure contradicts the feedback received from the sector.

The Strangford MLA pointed to the Minister's own consultation data, noting that 77% of respondents disagreed with the shift to linear A Levels. Support among the teaching profession was even lower at roughly 19%, while only 9% of pupils surveyed backed the change.

While Minister Paul Givan framed the reforms as a way to reduce the "inhumane" volume of testing, Mathison questioned the logic behind concentrating assessments at the end of a two-year period. He said: "I struggle to understand how fewer exams does not just mean more pressure and higher stakes for our children and young people, all concentrated at the end of your two years of study."

Mathison expressed concern that by removing the "midway" assessment provided by AS Levels, the system would inadvertently increase anxiety for students who prefer a phased approach to their qualifications. The Alliance MLA also challenged the Minister's decision to scrap controlled assessments and coursework in most subjects. The Minister cited the rise of Generative AI as a primary reason for the move, arguing it makes take-home tasks unreliable.

Mathison described this as a "knee-jerk reaction," noting:

• Detection Technology: Software to identify AI-generated content is becoming increasingly sophisticated, a development Mathison believes the Department is ignoring.

• Assessment Breadth: He argued that traditional written examinations should not be the sole method for measuring a young person's learning and capabilities.

The Alliance Party has pledged to continue engaging with school leaders, teachers, and students to monitor the impact of these proposals as work begins on new subject specifications. Mathison concluded that the voice of the workforce and the pupils themselves is "vital" and warned that ignoring these stakeholders could prevent many young people from thriving in the new system.

Earliest changes to classroom teaching under the new framework are expected to begin in September 2029, with the Department of Education promising full support and training for schools during the transition.