The Northern Ireland Minister for Education has praised the Christian Brothers for their contribution to Irish education. Speaking at the opening of the new €20m Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School in Newry, County Down, Catríona Ruane MLA (SF) congratulated Christian Brothers schools on their opposition to the 11-plus exam for academic selection.
The examination is used by some schools to 'cherry pick’ students who are perform better academically.
Speaking in the new school building to an attendance that included the congregational leader of the Christian Brothers Br Edmund Garvey, Ms Ruane said that the new building was the type of facility that Newry deserved and “it was absolutely entitled to the allocated funding.”
However, she added, that with such a right comes certain responsibilities and she wanted to congratulate the school on its opposition to the 11-plus exam.
She added that, “The Catholic Bishops have made clear their commitment to the ending of academic selection.”
”As educationalists, we must reject the notion that any child is a failure. Edmund Rice, the founder of the Irish Christian Brothers understood the importance of social justice. He believed that all children should be educated together on the same premises irrespective of class, defying the bigotry of his time.”
She added that 'Edmund Rice's message is as relevant today as it was then.
SIC: CIN/IE