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Coronavirus: 'Deep concern' over transfer tests after lockdown
May 27, 2020
Northern Ireland's children's commissioner has written to selective schools urging them to avoid using academic selection to admit pupils.
Koulla Yiasouma said she was "deeply concerned" transfer tests would be used to select pupils for 2021.
The tests are being delayed by up to two weeks but will be held in November and December.
Run by AQE and PPTC, they are used by the vast majority of grammar schools in Northern Ireland.
The head of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin, had previously asked schools to suspend academic selection in 2020 .
In an open letter to governors and principals of selective post-primary schools, Ms Yiasouma made the same appeal.
Image copyright PA Image caption The Catholic Principals' Association has written to Education Minister Peter Weir
"It is likely that school gates will be opening in 'stages' in September and you will hopefully be welcoming new pupils; it is these children that I am focusing on in this letter," Ms Yiasouma wrote.
"I am deeply concerned that you decided to maintain academic selection in its current form for the next academic year.
"Based on the announcement made by AQE and PPTC, these children will be expected to take tests a matter of weeks after returning to school on a staged basis following a five-and-a-half month absence."
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