Ruane 'Set-Back' Underlined By SDLP

The latest problem to hit the beleaguered NI Education Minister's plans for the 11+ has been revealed.

Groups set up to shape the future of NI's schools are now believed to be unlikely to meet the deadlines set by the minister.

SDLP MLA and party Education Spokesman Dominic Bradley has today accused Sinn Fein's Caitríona Ruane of continually making announcements without having worked out the details of proposals.

He referred to the setting up of one central and five regional bodies which were announced in March and about which the Department of Education said there is widespread agreement so as they can work to deliver local education needs.

The bodies - which are to be called Area Based Planning Groups - aim to work out how schools and further education colleges would manage a change to pupils making major choices at 14 rather than at 11 as has previously been the case.

While the chairpersons of the groups were announced three months ago and Minister Ruane said she would announce the membership of the groups "shortly", this has not happened.

Mr Bradley said the delay would mean they have no chance of meeting the government's deadline of October to put proposals to a central group.

That in turn would delay the consultation on changes which was due to take place in January 2009.

However, the Department of Education said the chairs and vice chairs of the groups have spent a considerable time preparing the groundwork which is essential for a new process and that the minister is still working to achieve the original deadlines of October and January next year.

"A contribution from the (Assembly's) Education Committee, of which Mr Bradley is a member, is still awaited," a department spokesperson added.

See: 11-plus Lives On!

(BMcC)