CONCERNS over the education opportunities available to children from Annaclone have been raised by South Down MLA PJ Bradley.
The SDLP representative has expressed 'bewilderment' at a reply he received from Education Minister Caitriona Ruane to a question he posed earlier on the subject of post primary education.
Mr. Bradley questioned the Minister on what future opportuni
ties will be available to children from places like Annaclone, Kilcoo and other areas that have by tradition travelled to St. Colman's College, Newry for their secondary education.
Commenting on Minister Ruane's reply Mr. Bradley said: "In her four-line reply the Minister states she will give a high priority to parental preference but then she goes on to say that St. Colman's, as with any oversubscribed school, will continue to offer places to those children who best meet the school's admissions criteria.
"I am unsure if the Minister is now accepting that some form of academic selection will be acceptable to her and that selection by postcode might not be applicable in all cases. It remains unclear whether some secondary schools will be permitted to do their own thing whilst other schools will be dictated to by the Minister and her Department.
"As a public representative I am confused but my confusion is not to be compared with the sheer frustration being experienced by hundreds of frustrated parents and teachers who simply do not know what the future holds for post-primary pupils."
The full article contains 247 words and appears in Banbridge Leader newspaper.
