Chris Hazzard of SF doesn’t like the current mess in our education system to be defined as “segregated”. I don;t know if he has a separate word but even his language belies sectarian divides.
Of course, it is John O’Dowd, Education Minister and SF MLA who presides over the education policy that Integrated Education is the policy – but never have I seen less of a policy-adhered-to than this.
The 11plus, for segregating on ability, was too “integrated” for SF so they abolished it. Meaning that Catholic Schools train their indoctrinated charges for the “GL” while Protestant* Schools train their children for the “AQE”. Both of them unregulated, unstandardised and it’s a few select schools that actually require results from both sets of exams.
We can harp on about how Health is failing under the DUP but Education is failing under SF. And if there were ever two departments, out of the thirteen we have, which absolutely were required, it would be health and education.
Asked Integrated sector not to continue using term "segregation" when discussing schools – many parents proud to chose Catholic education
— Chris Hazzard (@ChrisHazzardSF) November 19, 2014
@ianjamesparsley loaded language suggests parents are actively segregated into camps – not fair or reflective of complex situation
— Chris Hazzard (@ChrisHazzardSF) November 19, 2014
@ChrisHazzardSF @dmcbfs @ianjamesparsley 80% of parents say they'd choose integration if it was available. Segregationists ensure it's not.
— Newton Emerson (@NewtonEmerson) November 19, 2014