The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council has issued its strongest condemnation yet of the province’s pro grammar school lobby.

The NITC, which represents teachers in the province’s main teaching unions, accused grammar schools which still support academic selection of double standards.

And it’s also highlighted the fact that to date it is only Education Minister Catriona Ruane who has been prepared to indicate a compromise position. 

“This year’s second  transfer procedure test should have signalled the end of an era in Northern Ireland’s Educational history,” said Avril Hall Callaghan, General Secretary of the UTU, and chairperson of NITC.

“It should have been the final test in this year’s Transfer Procedure and the last time that our ten-year-olds had to face an outdated 11-plus examination.

“The five main teacher unions in Northern Ireland have for many years campaigned for an end to this inaccurate and divisive examination and we welcome the ending of academic selection at eleven.

“It is with deep regret that we note that our local politicians, despite recent positive developments in other areas, have yet to find a way forward to allow our Primary 6 pupils, their parents and teachers know what steps will be in place for children transferring to post-primary education in September 2010.”

The NITC has welcomed attempts by the four main churches to find a compromise solution and also supports the initiative taken by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to prompt a solution. 

“We would now urge the political parties to enter into a serious dialogue with the Minister so that a solution may be found which is in the best interests of all our children,” said Ms Hall Callaghan.

Frank Bunting, Northern Secretary of INTO and Secretary of NITC said “We condemn the steps taken by some within the grammar school sector to introduce their own selection tests irrespective of the concern and uncertainty which their actions will have on the very children which they are seeking to attract to their schools.

“We would contend that many of those very grammar schools which now seek to make much of the need for an academic entry , had no such reservations when it came to filling their places in the past.

David Canning President of NAHT stated “I have great sympathy for our parents, children and teachers as they try to make sense of the current situation.  What we need is for our politicians to reach agreement about the way ahead for our schools.  This is now a matter of the utmost urgency.  Furthermore, their conclusions must be clear and decisive so that we never encounter such an impasse again”.

Avril Hall-Callaghan concluded “As Unions with membership throughout every sector of Northern Ireland education we are very much aware of the concerns which the continuing uncertainty brings to pupils, parents and our members. 

“We would therefore urge our politicians to begin the dialogue with each other now.  We would urge them to put their political differences to the side and to put the needs of our children first. 

“We urge them to take the same big steps towards compromise which have enabled us to reach situation where we have local politicians making real decisions.  We urge them to act now.”