DEMOCRATIC Unionist Party leader and First Minister Peter Robinson has clashed with the Catholic Church over reform of education in the North, accusing the church of frustrating parents and pupils who want the retention of grammar schools.
Mr Robinson, speaking during a school visit in Lisburn, Co Antrim, made his accusation on the day Cardinal Seán Brady published a consultation paper on the future of second-level schools and the method of transfer from primary schools.
“The Roman Catholic Church appears determined to deny young people the opportunity of a grammar school education,” Mr Robinson said.
“I know many Roman Catholic parents vehemently oppose this position. They too understand the importance of successful academic schools in the development of our society here. I am determined to ensure that an academic option is available to those from all backgrounds who wish to pursue this path.”
The church’s review of the Catholic post-primary sector includes opposition to so-called academic selection, which has included the use of a test to decide which 11-year-olds gain access to academic grammar schools.
Unveiling church reform proposals that will now go out to consultation, Dr Brady said he wished to see Stormont politicians moving beyond what he called the “narrow focus on academic selection and to engage in a wider, more inclusive discussion about how together we can provide the best possible system of education for every child”.
He added: “We have been and will continue throughout this process to consult beyond the Catholic network of schools and explore new ways of sharing resources, facilities and personnel at local level to ensure that the best possible education for all children in our society is achieved.”
Sinn Féin Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has already abolished the controversial 11-plus transfer test. However, grammar schools, anxious to retain some form of academic selection, last year set their own independent entrance examinations.
The Commission on Catholic Education says this should not continue beyond 2012.
Among the proposals outlined yesterday and which will now go to consultation are plans for greater co-operation between Catholic schools and other sectors.
It is further proposed to encourage greater amalgamation of local schools, more co-educational schools and greater networking among groups of schools.
Gerry Lundy, who directed the church's review of post-primary provision, told The Irish Timesthat the proposals, contrary to what Mr Robinson was saying, were not about narrowing choice for pupils and their parents, but were about widening it.