Opinion

Society can’t afford to let vested interests destroy our children’s future

As the Stormont talks proceed one can only hope that the talks focus on real issues such as health and education (these two sectors alone account for more than 33p in every £ spent here) not what colour of flag goes up, down, where and how often in a given year?

Last February expert evidence to the NI Select Committee on education recorded it was an “enduring myth” that we had one of the best education systems in Europe. Further the committee was told that “many children are not getting the qualifications and start in life they deserve”.

In terms of discussion groups it is hard to see how anyone at Stormont could talk about either a Programme for Government, an Equality Agenda or indeed Transparency without discussing the dismal state of our education system. It is nearly 20 years since Martin McGuinness announced the abolition of the 11-plus and it would be interesting if Sinn Féin would confirm if they have reversed policy or not. If not, then surely discussions at Stormont must review the steps made by the DUP’s Peter Weir between May 2016 and Spring 2017. At best the policies pursued seem calculated to reinforce the 11-plus, if not reverse Sinn Féin’s and, as I understand, official executive policy.


The thing is, Martin McGuinness was right in 2000. As we move into the third decade of the 21st century, we cannot afford to allow vested interests to damage our children’s futures faced by challenges, eg artificial intelligence, as set out in the 2018 World Economic Forum, (WEF) Report, ‘Industry 4.0’.

Whether or not Sinn Féin still believe in their own party policy is one question. It would be interesting to know the answers to a few other questions since the taxpayer is paying for all this and, according to February’s expert testimony, failing spectacularly.

What is meant by the term ‘grammar school’ and how many grammar schools do we really have in NI  as opposed to schools that call themselves that in order to trouser most of the resources available?

Does a young girl/boy have a better chance of getting into a grammar school if they do one test or the other?

What equivalence there is between scores in the two 11-plus tests and who checks?

What score gets them a ‘grammar’ school place in Belfast, as opposed to one in a rural community?

Who checks to ensure that our young people are not unfairly denied life chances and resources?

I do not know the answer to these questions but since eugenics went out with Hitler, I really struggle with the idea that there are two different types of intelligence here.The fact that a child does not get access to better school resources from state-of-the-art computers or other resources, because they are poorer, on whatever measure used, is surely the most obscene form of inequality that we promote here.  After all some of us have managed to survive looking at flags of many different colours over the years and lived to tell the tale.

In the weeks ahead I sincerely hope that our well-remunerated representatives answer these questions, especially the next time one of them spouts from a script containing the word equality.

FRANK HENNESSEY


Belfast BT9

‘Modern shows’ only cheap voyuerism for the gullible

The sad event of the death of a man apparently because of his on The Jeremy Kyle Show is a symptom of the awful programmes viewers can get off on when watching the misery of vulnerable others being humiliated and abused by the makers of these things.

There is a long list of ‘modern shows’ which bring this cruelty to the public, which can only infer we ought to become smug and glad that we’re not on that list of ‘deplorables’ (the description of the rich and powerful for the poor)  as they see them on the boards of the BBC, ITV,  RTÉ, Channel 4 and others, brought on for our ‘amusement’.

Benefits Street, Can’t Pay, We’ll Take it Away etc and shown in the so-called ‘public interest’, feature desperate people not even able to give proper vent to their distress because often they are confronted by well-mannered bullies dressed in paramilitary-type uniforms, who could snap their necks if they put up a fight when their furniture and cars are towed away. These are citizens who have no money to meet their debts, that’s all. When do we see failed businesses and developers treated like this? Never.

Give those nice people a little time and they are mysteriously back in business again having been taken into the protection of their own kind of well-suited cohorts. Debts, what debts?


Make a protest by not watching the suffering of others in the name of television entertainment, which is only cheap voyuerism for the gullible.

ROBERT SULLIVAN


Bantry, Co Cork

Truth can’t be used to suit particular narrative

Gerry Adams stated in his letter (May 14): “Those killed in Ballymurphy were entirely innocent neighbours. They had no connection to any republican organisation.”

Mr Adams says he told the inquest that the IRA had decided not to engage with the British army in the 48 hours after the introduction of internment. Did they inform the enemy of their decision? Would it have been ‘sensible’ to do so?

What was PIRA’s raison d’etre for its existence? Mr Adams has publicly stated that he has always defended the IRA’s right to engage in armed struggle. To achieve what? Regardless of who suffered? The Provos basically used the community as a shield and the community paid the price, willingly or not.


It’s all part of the ‘conflict’.


It can’t be left out of the story.

As Mr Adams said: “All of these are pertinent matters in the context of trying to get truth and justice for the families of those killed.”

It must be the whole truth, not just bits that suit a particular narrative.

MALACHY SCOTT


Belfast BT15

Importance of staying active

The latest World Health Organisation guidelines highlight the profound importance of staying active in later life, to reduce cognitive decline and dementia.

Physical inactivity in later life is one of Britain and Northern Ireland’s greatest health challenges, with around 6.4 million physically inactive older people.

Physical activity can reduce the risk of dementia by 30 per cent. So we urgently need solutions that encourage exercise that is suited to older people, to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.

Encouragingly, Anchor Hanover’s research shows 76 per cent of older people wish they were more physically active. That’s why new initiatives like 10 Today are so welcome. 10 Today is an innovative new programme, launched to increase physical activity among older people through short 10 minute exercise routines that can be done almost anywhere and at any time, and are broadcast free on the radio and online.

To find out more about how to get involved visit anchorhanover.org.uk/10today.

JANE ASHCROFT


Anchor Hanover,


London