Written evidence from Mr Ian S Corry,
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
The purpose of this letter is to make a brief
submission to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, post primary
school debate.
I am a parent of three children aged 10, 8 and
6. I am a member of the board of governors of the RBAI grammar
school. I am a former pupil of the school having attended a North
Belfast primary school and RBAI in the late 60s/early 70s. My
family background would not have allowed access to the potential
fees associated with private education.
To allow children of modest or low family income
to continue to benefit from a state subsidised academic education
system, the Northern Ireland grammar schools should be allowed
to continue. For this to be possible, academic selection cannot
be abolished.
I would like the committee to take note of the
following two points which are central to all more detailed deliberations
on the subject of post primary education selection in Northern
Ireland.
1. The majority of the Northern Ireland
public want the grammar schools and therefore academic selection
to continue. (They recognise that the current 11-plus exam should
end but should be replaced with other academic selection methods.)
2. The decision on the fate of academic
selection and therefore the grammar schools should be taken by
the Northern Ireland Assembly if and when it is re-established.
To allow the grammar schools to decline would
be to dismantle an education system with a fine record. To allow
this decision to be taken by ministers of a party with no electoral
organisation or mandate within Northern Ireland would be to allow
dictatorship of a type which is profoundly anti-democratic.
I would appeal to the Northern Ireland Affairs
Committee to use its influence to delay this undemocratic process
pending a full debate and ultimate resolution by the local political
representatives within the local Assembly.
25 November 2005
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