Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Catholic Bishop's report on school transfer has acknowledged many of the problems caused by academic selection - Mathers

Published: 23 May, 2009

Newry Sinn Féin Marian Mathers has said that a recent report from Bishop McAreavy regarding the transfer of pupils from primary to post-primary education in Newry only reinforces Sinn Féin argument as to why academic selection needs to be abolished.

Commenting on the reporting Cllr Mathers said,

"The Bishop's report has gone some way to acknowledging the negative impact that academic selection has on our children and particularly those children who come from areas of social deprivation.

"The report highlights the fact that the ratio of students entitled to free school meals in grammar schools is significantly less than those in secondary education. Almost 40% of pupils in a local high School in Newry receive free school meals compared to 5% in a nearby grammar school.

"Sinn Fein has always maintained that academic selection has disavantaged under privellaged children and this report reinforses those arguments. The Catholic Bishops should take heed of their own report and rather than provide a two year life line to academic selection should support the Minister in providing equality for all our children

The report states that these statistics 'show one of the effects, of the present transfer system on the intake of pupils into post-primary education.'

Clrl Mathers also noted the report 'asks all Catholic and post-primary schools to give full consideration to the guidelines on admissions criteria issued by the Minister for Education ..and urges them to implement them 'as fully as possible.'