'Charade' of testing children must stop - O'Dowd

The Sinn Fein education spokesperson offered his congratulations to all children who sat the controversial tests, “no matter what result they received” and he assured them they all have a “bright educational future to look forward to”.

Mr O’Dowd said, “I and many others feel it was totally unnecessary to put these children through this trauma. Figures released in December 2009 on grades accepted by grammar schools showed that the majority of grammar schools accepted grades from A through to D. Parents rightly ask, why did these schools put children through the charade of testing when in fact they will accept all grades to fill their classrooms?”

Mr O’Dowd said that question would again rebound in many homes as it becomes clear that schools which insisted on testing would accept “all and any” to keep up their school numbers.

“I am encouraged that more and more parents are deciding not to put their children through the experience of sitting entrance tests and I hope that the grammar sector will now begin to embrace the changes needed to bring equality into our schools,” added Mr O’Dowd. “Academic selection is socially unjust and educationally unnecessary. Grammar Schools themselves have proven that.

“Educational excellence is achievable without selecting and rejecting children. I once again call on grammar schools to accept the reality of their own position and work with their educational partners in primary and post-primary schools rather than continuing the charade.”