Ruane's guerrilla campaign
16 March 2009
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister MEP
"Not unfamiliar with such tactics, Education Minister Ruane is now conducting a guerrilla campaign against grammar school transfer tests. Her latest ploy is to suggest they must be multi-lingual and thus produced in Irish. This follows her threat to send in the Brownshirts to check, through the school inspectorate, that Primary School teachers are not daring to prepare children for the tests. Aided by some Unions she is trying to put the frighteners on teachers.
Parents have a right to expect their children to be adequately prepared for their transfer from primary to secondary education, openly and adequately within our primary schools and not clandestinely as in hedgerow schooling. This Sinn Fein Minister is trying to spike them at every turn, such is her vicious vendetta against grammar schools.
We were promised by the DUP that academic selection had been saved as an integral part of the education system. Sadly, it is turning out to be marginalised as "below the counter" contraband. This is utterly unfair to parents and pupils. Ruane should back off and let schools meet the needs and expectations of their customer base."
