Lunn says Robinson suggestion to unify the two transfer tests is not a long term solution

Alliance Education spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA has responded to claims by Peter Robinson that the two transfer test systems should by unified by saying that this is not a long term solution to post primary transfer.

Trevor Lunn MLA said: “Peter Robinson may believe that he has the solution to this issue but we will not have a long term solution if we unify the two separate transfer tests.

“This single transfer test will still be unregulated and not approved by the Department of Education. Unless we can get agreement with Sinn Fein about a solution then all Mr Robinson is offering is a minor alteration. It is fairly obvious that there is major disagreement once again between DUP and Sinn Fein about the Educational and Skills Authority Bill and Mr Robinson would be well advised to apply his brain to reaching an agreement on that major issue rather than floating ideas which only tinker with the existing situation.

“This week we have already seen the tensions that exist in our post primary transfer arrangements with the Education Minister suggesting schools may be sanctioned for preparing pupils for these tests. What Mr Robinson has put forward would not alter these potential problems.

“Many people including myself would like to see the two bodies AQE and GL coming together but we have to come up with something that actually gets rid of academic selection completely.

“Is Mr Robinson not aware of the stated objective of the Catholic Authorities to remove academic selection all together from their schools by 2014?”

ENDS

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