Robert McCartney: SF worry over poor Protestant pupils is rich [belfasttelegraph.co.uk]
- Published: 06 July 2011
Sinn Fein has shown a “touching sympathy” for the educational plight of Protestant children in north Belfast.
Their poor performance in the 11-plus is blamed on the selection principle. Sinn Fein claim that if selection and the grammar schools were abolished, these children would educationally flourish. “Nothing” could be further from the truth.
Educational researchers all share the view that the poor performance of children in deprived areas is overwhelmingly caused by socio-economic conditions.
Other relevant factors are the quality of teaching at primary level and a lack of educational aspiration among many parents who do not even enter their children for the examination.
Full Story: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
