:: press release ::

Tuesday June 24, 2008

SOCIAL BACKGROUND SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER

East Antrim DUP Assembly Member Alastair Ross has sharply criticised Education Minister Catroina Ruane for failing to recognise that her education proposals will discriminate against those young people who come from areas of social disadvantage.  
 

Commenting after a NSMC Statement by the Minister Mr Ross said,  
 

“Educational underachievement is particularly prevalent among disadvantaged groups in society and areas of social disadvantage, but equally, for many young people in these groups education can be a way out from deprivation.  
 

Northern Ireland has very good levels of social mobility through education, and we have more young people from disadvantaged areas getting to University than anywhere else in the UK. Equality of opportunity in education is vital, and children who come from disadvantaged areas should have the same life opportunities and same opportunities to go to the most popular schools as everyone else.  
 

Unfortunately this Education Minister will prevent young people from escaping from disadvantage through education by creating a geographically based entrance criteria for the most popular schools. Merit alone should be the entrance criteria to ensure that academically bright young people can be stretched and equally that those who require more help get it.  
 

It is also unfortunate that the Minister totally ignored my question which highlighted the fact that in Dublin, as well as in England and Scotland, parents who have money are able to buy houses closest to the most popular schools so that their children are within the catchment area. This is already happening in Northern Ireland as parents fear the Ministers proposals and what they will mean for their children.     
 

The Minister makes much about fairness, although there is nothing fair in children who do not have rich parents missing out on a good education and the opportunity to go to the most popular schools. A child’s social background should not act as a barrier.”