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03/12/2013
Academic Selection Is Failing Our Pupils - Hazzard
Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Chris Hazzard has said that the latest results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) from the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shows that academic selection is failing the majority of our pupils and doesn't increase academic excellence.
Mr Hazzard said: "The latest PISA figures from the OECD shows little increase in the standards achieved in English, Maths and Science since 2009 in our post-primary schools. This is in spite of the fact that our primary schools have seen continued improvement and are now among the best performing internationally.
"This is because our primary schools do not divide children based on social background. All the evidence proves that a good social mix in school improves outcomes for all learners. However, academic selection discards that social mix because it is children from more affluent backgrounds who tend to pass the test.
"The figures bear that out and show, once again that the social division caused by academic selection is bad for the educational outcomes of all children."
Mr Hazzard added: "As well as failing the majority of pupils, the continued use of selection tests isn’t even achieving its stated aim of providing a route to academic excellence for those children who actually pass.
"PISA shows that the level of high attainment has not increased here since 2009, whereas it has done in many other countries, including those in the developing world. These countries do not use selection tests, yet they have been able to improve educational attainment for all children.
"This confirms that academic selection is not only discriminatory but counter-productive."
(CD/JP)
Mr Hazzard said: "The latest PISA figures from the OECD shows little increase in the standards achieved in English, Maths and Science since 2009 in our post-primary schools. This is in spite of the fact that our primary schools have seen continued improvement and are now among the best performing internationally.
"This is because our primary schools do not divide children based on social background. All the evidence proves that a good social mix in school improves outcomes for all learners. However, academic selection discards that social mix because it is children from more affluent backgrounds who tend to pass the test.
"The figures bear that out and show, once again that the social division caused by academic selection is bad for the educational outcomes of all children."
Mr Hazzard added: "As well as failing the majority of pupils, the continued use of selection tests isn’t even achieving its stated aim of providing a route to academic excellence for those children who actually pass.
"PISA shows that the level of high attainment has not increased here since 2009, whereas it has done in many other countries, including those in the developing world. These countries do not use selection tests, yet they have been able to improve educational attainment for all children.
"This confirms that academic selection is not only discriminatory but counter-productive."
(CD/JP)
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