25/06/2002

CBI express concern over NI education system

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has told Education Minister, Martin McGuinness that it supports the Burns recommendations but has concerns that the education system is not giving businesses the workforce they need.

The CBI said Northern Ireland needed to move away from being a low-skilled and low-productivity economy by creating a highly skilled, adaptable and creative workforce.

The Burns review of Northern Ireland's education system recommended an end to the controversial 11-plus transfer test. However, while the CBI said it was in favour of abolishing academic selection, it could not support it at present until all pupils could take advantage of a high quality, high standard education.

The 300-page report by the Post Primary Review body, which was published last October, suggested the test be scrapped within two years.

(MB)

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