Sinn Féin MLA Catherine Kelly has called on the Education Minister to explain why he is continuing to support transfer tests for eleven year-olds when GCSE and A-Level students transferred to higher education without sitting exams.

The Sinn Féin spokesperson for Children and Young People, was speaking after the Equality Commission highlighted this disparity in its latest advice to the Department of Education.

Catherine Kelly said:

“Why is Minister Weir content to support non-exam based transfers of GCSE and A-Level pupils to higher education but continues to pursue post primary testing, despite the fact that these tests are unofficial, unregulated and unfair?

“Rescheduling tests to early January is likely to pose another adverse impact on the wellbeing of many young children who have already faced a difficult year.

“The Minister should give children a break and embrace his equality obligations by abandoning this archaic and divisive practice of subjecting young children to exams that are outside the public education system.”