Children 'start school too early' [belfasttelegraph.co.uk]
- Published: 22 September 2011
Concerns about the age children start school in Northern Ireland — the lowest in Europe — have been raised by Stormont’s education committee.
Children start their primary school education here at the age of four, which is two years younger than the European average.
The committee heard yesterday that there are arguments both for and against the policy that has been adopted by the Department of Education.
However, there is broad agreement that any curriculum for children aged four and five should focus on play instead of educational achievement. Alliance’s Trevor Lunn, who is a member of the committee, said: “It always worries me when I see us completely out of line with so many other countries.
Full Story: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
