Belfast Media Group Events

Today the Belfast Media Group launches its ‘End The 11+’ campaign.

We believe that there should be no return to the failed 11+ and we appeal to Education Minister Caitríona Ruane to implement the changes to Transfer 2010. In our opinion academic selection is unjust and has failed too many of our children for too long.

Below you will find a petition. We ask you to please fill it in and either bring it to one of the community groups listed below where they will be collected and handed over to Minister Ruane or fill it in and email campaign@belfastmediagroup.com. There already are petitions in these community centres across Belfast and our petition in today’s paper is additional to that.

Welcoming the Belfast Media Group campaign to end the 11+ Education Minister Caitriona Ruane said: “I commend the Belfast Media Group in initiating this petition campaign.

“The 11+ is gone and gone for good. There will be no reprieve for what was an unjust and unacceptable system which branded children as failures at such a young age.

“My department has adopted Transfer 2010 as its official policy and this is but one part of a programme of comprehensive changes taking place within our education system.

“I am privileged to be leading this necessary change, with the support of the majority of schools, trade unions, educationalists and parents.”

Experts say the 11+  has left the North of Ireland with some of the worst levels of educational attainment in the EU.

SDLP Education spokesperson Dominic Bradley said:  ”Our position in the SDLP has always been that academic selection is educationally unsound and socially unjust, but we are not going to get rid of it just by issuing ministerial announcements.

“We have to work out a replacement system and get everyone on board for a sensible process of transition.”

• There should be no return to the failed & divisive 11-Plus System
• I appeal to the Minister of Education, Caitríona Ruane to implement the changes of transfer 2010
• Academic selection is unjust

Download our Word document (click here to download), fill in your name and address and either
a) send it in to one of the centres below or
b) email the completed Word document to campaign@belfastmediagroup.com

CENTRES
Market Development Association,
3 Upper Stanfield Street, Belfast, BT7 2DN

Shaftsbury Community and Recreation Centre,
97 Balfour Ave, Lower Ormeau, Belfast

Short Strand Community Centre,
28a Beechfield Street, Belfast

North Queen Street Community Centre,
46a Victoria Parade, 90323945

Ligoniel Community Centre,
144 Ligionel Road, 90719337

Ardoyne Womens Group, Ardoyne Community Centre,
40 Herbert Street, 90748523

Falls Community Council ,
275-277 Falls Road, 9020 2030

Belfast Media Group Offices,
Hannahstown Hill, Antrim Road

Sally Gardens Community Centre,
Bell Steel Road, Poleglass

Upper Andersonstown Community Forum,
(temporarily based in Saint Agnes’ Parish Centre),
Andersonstown Road (Old Camelot)

Upper Springfield Development Trust,
Top of the Rock, 689 Springfield Road

Turf Lodge Residents Association,
35a Norglen Drive

Blackie River Centre,
43 Beechmount Pass

Please either e-mail or leave petitions in before Friday, November 27.