Fair education campaign moves to London

Campaigners for a fair education for all children in Northern Ireland took their campaign to one of the seats of power.

Representatives of organisations that support the ending of unfair academic selection at the age of 11 went to lobby the House of Lords as guests of Baroness May Blood. Before that they met the new Education Minister, Maria Eagle, to emphasise the case for the changes and the support they enjoy.

They were buoyed by widespread support voiced at Stormont last week by three of the main political parties, heads, teachers and students from schools and many representatives from the voluntary and community sector.

The proposal to ban academic selection and introduce a new curriculum for the 21^st century will be made in a statutory Order which must be approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

One member of the deputation, Uel McCrea, head of Ballyclare Secondary School and arepresentative of the Association of Head Teachers in Secondary Schools, said;

Michael Wardlow, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education challenged the claim that the NI education system is the envy of Europe.

Frances McCandless, director of policy at the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, highlighted the fact that selection greatly benefits middle class children.

Mark Langhammer, official for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, which represents many grammar school teachers, commented

Anne Odling-Smee, former chair of Belfast Education and Library Board, reinforced the need to create a quality education system.

Information

For more information on the lobby please contact Paul Mc Gill at NICVA, tel: 028 9087 7777; mob: 0772 1746 805.