NIO Minister Jane Kennedy has confirmed that she intends to continue with plans to abolish the 11-plus while seeking agreement on an alternative form of educational selection.

The news came during a debate in the Commons yesterday over the future of post-primary education in Northern Ireland raised by the Ulster Unionist MP for East Antrim Roy Beggs.

Before the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended last year, the Education Minister Martin Maginness put in motion legislation abolishing the 11-plus by 2004.

Since then the UUP have called for a halt to any plans to abolish the current form of the transfer test until some form of selection is agreed.

“We were therefore utterly amazed that one of the first acts of the present Minister with responsibility for education was to reiterate and support that statement of educational vandalism and malice,” Mr Beggs said.

Discussing the issue Mr Beggs said his party accepted there were problems with the present 11-plus transfer procedure.

“Indeed, we support its replacement, but only when a suitably worked out alternative has been put forward,” he said.

However, he added that unless the matter was handled carefully, there would be a real danger of doing "irreparable harm" to our education system and of undermining the good standards presently being achieved by pupils in Northern Ireland.

Whilst acknowledging Northern Ireland’s reputation Ms Kennedy said there was no room for complacency.

“Alongside the high achievers, Northern Ireland also has more pupils leaving school with low qualifications than elsewhere, and this is a particular issue for those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds,” she said.

Outlining the next stages of the review Ms Kennedy said: “I believe it is important that the review progresses in a way that has the confidence and support of parents, the education sector and the wider community. I want to build on the emerging consensus from the consultation as we take the review forward and I believe it is the responsibility of everyone involved in education to work together to develop new arrangements.”

(AMcE)