THE Independent Review of Education was set up as part of the New Decade, New Approach deal and from the outset promised ‘not to shirk the big issues’. One of these big issues is the future of the transfer test and the grammar sector here in Northern Ireland.
The DUP have been the biggest supporters of the transfer test and the grammar system. As part of the political talks at St Andrews to restore the devolved institutions in 2006, the DUP secured a concession in the negotiations that would allow grammar schools to continue to use academic selection if they wished. They have blocked every effort to move to an education system that will benefit all children and not just those children born into families which give them an advantage from the start – or as the American economist and Nobel Laureate James Heckman has described it: “Some kids win the lottery at birth; far too many don’t .”
It would appear, when it comes to education, that the DUP aren’t that interested in the research. If they were they would know that the research from the Burns Report (2001), the Costello Report (2004 , A Call to Action (2011), Education Inequalities in Northern Ireland (2015) and Investigating Links in Achievement and Deprivation (2015) have all highlighted how the transfer test acts as an educational barrier to working class children.
When it comes to education the DUP do ideology. They believe in a hierarchical system akin to the old medieval feudal system where everyone knew their place. The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gates.
Jim Curran
Downpatrick, Co Down
Accusing Israel of being apartheid a common slur
MICHAEL Hagan – “Israel consistently ignoring UN’s countless resolutions’ (November 2) – accuses Israel of being an apartheid state at least three times. This has become a common slur against the only democratic state in the region.
In Israel, of which 20 per cent of the population are Israeli Arab, everyone has full political and social rights unlike indigenous people in South Africa. Israeli Arabs have full access to all professions including political, judicial, diplomatic medical and educational. This was not the case in apartheid South Africa. Everyone in Israel has freedom of religion and none. LGBT people have freedom of expression, unlike Hamas-controlled Gaza where many are put to death.
He mentions “occupation” countless times. Israel left Gaza in 2005. Settlers were removed at the same time, leaving behind prosperous farms and commercial greenhouses and desalination plants. Palestinians could have conveniently taken over and continued the enterprise. Instead they destroyed them.
If Israel’s blockade of Gaza was so robust then I ask how come missiles and other munitions get in? How do building materials construct a mass of elaborately constructed tunnels?
By throwing emotive phrases at Israel, Mr Hagan does not add any thing constructive. The fencing off of the Gaza border with Israel was, and is, necessary as long as the Hamas terrorists remain in control. Unfortunately it was of little defence on October 7 when Hamas broke through, without cause, and murdered more than 1,400 innocent Israeli citizens. They further abducted more than 200 civilians, holding them hostages in their tunnels.
The Hamas charter clearly calls for the killing of Jews everywhere in the world. Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel. They are the racists, they impose apartheid practice, not Israel.
Andrew Shaw
Belfast BT10
Restoring the assembly
WITH the hopes of restoring the assembly growing, can we feel assured that the party leaders have spent the last year agreeing that the necessary changes will be implemented?
The first of which must be that proper democratic rule, as we understand it, is implemented. No more petulant bigoted behaviour and misapplying rules such as petitions of concern, no more sectarian designations and no more ability for a minority to pull it down.
To which we need a more efficient delivery of the main long-term goals. We must have agreed long-term goals which cannot be stalled by ministerial or party preferences which have hindered so many projects, A robust civil service and political consistency must be encouraged to do what is “right”. We urgently need more people who are in authority to make sure that we deliver what we need more efficiently and cost effectively. Surely we have more pride in ourselves than to allow us to wallow in inefficiency and constantly holding out the begging bowl.
The parties and civil service will need to do something strange for them. Northern Ireland needs them to make the hard long-term decisions, stick to them and deliver them effectively.
Tom Ekin
Belfast BT1
