Ruane says test call 'difficult'

Caitríona Ruane was addressing grammar and secondary school principals

Northern Ireland's education minister has said her plan to continue academic selection for another three years was a "difficult move" for her.

Caitríona Ruane said she still had a "vision that there will be no academic selection" and that she was prepared to take the steps needed to achieve that.

In a speech to grammar and secondary school principals, the minister referred to personal criticism of her.

But she also thanked everyone for adding to the debate.

She said there cannot be a "Transfer Test Mark II" and that she hoped academic selection will soon be seen as an "historical anomaly".

Last December, Ms Ruane announced that the test, commonly known as the 11-plus, would come to an end in 2008.

On Tuesday, the SDLP said a new post-primary transfer test for schoolchildren in NI would be a "climbdown".

Ms Ruane will reveal her plans on Thursday to the Northern Ireland Executive.

She is to propose a form of testing to continue for three years, but there will be a limit on the number of pupils grammar schools can take on that basis.

The SDLP's Dominic Bradley said it had the hallmarks of a DUP/Sinn Féin deal. But Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd said Ms Ruane was setting out a clear way forward.

It is believed that now, the minister could commission new tests which encompass broader educational areas than the current transfer test.

These tests would be developed and marked by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment, continuing for about three more years.