Ulster Unionist Education spokesperson, Danny Kinahan MLA has urged Education Minister, John O`Dowd to take a step back so that an agreed solution can be reached to the current education impasse.
Speaking this evening, Danny said, “The last 11-plus exam was held in November 2008. Four years later we now have an education system offering multiple unregulated transfer tests with Education Minister John O`Dowd presiding over an educational shambles for parents and children. Unfortunately John O`Dowd and Sinn Fein aren`t listening to anyone outside their own dogma and ideology, and with little regard for the impact on children and parents.
There needs to be a negotiated solution between all the parties. The current educational maze which children and their parents now have to negotiate has to be addressed. Sinn Fein have been in charge of education for ten years and have led us all into this mess. For too long they have been dictating to others; it`s time that they started listening.
John O`Dowd needs to take a step back and take up our recommendation for the introduction of a single agreed test for a period of two years. This will give time and space for all those involved to reach some common ground whilst at the same time ending the current fiasco.
For those children taking an exam, I send them my best wishes. The Ulster Unionist Party believes in a fair education system for all, with children using all their talents whether academical or vocational. It`s time that Stormont started to deliver for them.”