Beware of fudge on academic selection - Allister
21 October 2008
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister MEP:
"With rising speculation that the Roman Catholic Church Bishops are going to shortly issue a call for CCEA to be asked to set a test for use in transfer from primary schools, it is necessary to stress that it is imperative that any such test must not be less valid than the current 11 Plus. Any new test must be verifiably more valid and reliable than the current transfer test, before its use would be warranted.
If its value as a tool for discerning academic ability is watered down, then it would be more about serving the needs of a political fudge than serving the interests of parents and children. Saving academic selection is more than the symbolism of a test, it is about maintaining a credible means of choice."
