RIGHT TO EDUCATION

REPORT BY THE POST-PRIMARY REVIEW BODY

INTRODUCTION

In September 2000 a Review Body on Post-Primary Education, chaired by Mr Gerry Burns, was set up by the Minister of Education, Mr Martin McGuinness, to consult and make recommendations for the future structure of post-primary education in Northern Ireland.

In October 2001 a report by the Post-Primary Review Body was published, commonly called the "Burns Report".

The Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) has examined this document in-depth, and has concluded that it would, if implemented as proposed, in effect result in the elimination the form of secondary education at present provided by our grammar schools. It transpires from the report that the underlying aim of the proposed reform is to use the education system to promote a state ideology of Marxist inspiration.

The UHRW has in particular focussed its analysis on the "guiding principles" which constitute the foundation of the proposed new education system (see Analysis of the Report by the Post-Primary Review Body (Burns Report)).

The impact of the Burns Report on the education system was effectively brought to the attention of the public at large at the beginning of June 2002, when a public consultation was launched by the Department of Education by means of a Household Response Form, sent by post to all the people concerned in Northern Ireland.

A three-week maximum period was then allocated to answer the questions mentioned on the form, since it "was imperative that the form was returned by the 28th June". The period of time provided for studying the report by the Post-Primary Review Body (328 pages), providing meaningful responses and/or making alternative proposals, was far too limited for the public consultation to be used meaningfully in the future by the Department of Education in making any decision.

Furthermore, on examination, the questions asked in the Household Response Form have proved to be insidious and have prompted further comments from the UHRW(see Comments on the Household Response Form issued by the Department of Education)

Ulster Human Rights Watch alternative to the Burns Report