Statement by TUV vice chair and South Antrim representative Richard Cairns:
“It is not surprising that having ended state regulated academic selection the Sinn Fein education Minister publicly warns primary schools about preparing pupils for the now private testing. Republican dogma prevails over parent, pupil and teaching priorities.
“It is not a crime for primary schools to cater for their pupils needs, and a large number of pupils will be sitting transfer tests. If the Minister was truly concerned, and if he was able to be held account by those around the Executive table, then academic selection would be reinstated and regulated. That would solve many of the problems.
“Sinn Fein often whinge about equality and fairness but their dogmatic pursuit of ending academic selection and gutting out of the Grammar school sector in Northern Ireland has created an unequal system. All pupils should be able to sit a single test that could be used by all schools who use test results for admission. Then primary schools would be able to continue looking after all their pupils needs instead of getting persecuted by the Minister.”