Here are some of your comments on the latest programme...

On Politics Show from Northern Ireland on Sunday 3rd February, Mark Devenport reported from North Antrim on whether the Causeway affair has affected the political aspirations of Ian Paisley jnr. In the studio, Jim Fitzpatrick spoke to the Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane, about the debate over academic selection and her bumpy relations with the Assembly Education Committee.

Here are some of your comments.

Go back to cork Ruane and educate them.
Anon

The education system is a total disaster.bring back old system.
Dundonald man.

The so-called minister should be ashamed of herself over her stance over the classroom assistants.
Anon

Minister, stop avoiding questions! Academic selection is the only way!
Anon

Stop destroying something that is good. Our education system is the envy in these islands. Political dogma is plunging our schools into crisis.
Andrew.

Great show!
Anon

Why does the Northern Ireland electoral process not have new First Ministers every four years? I am forty and have had the same politicians all my life.
Anon

Having gone through the Dickson Plan and the continuing success of it, I feel it should be implemented throughout the province.
Anon

Caitriona Ruane is totally unfit for her job. Margaret Ritchie is the only minister delivering real progress.
Anon

Maybe Ms Ruane could answer the direct questions.
Anon

I'm sick of the Education Minister saying children's education is important, and change is going to happen. But minister tell parents what the changes will be.
Anon

This is the old �ire Nua policy of 1922; no change there then.
Anon

Two errors: 1. 11 year olds. About half are still only 10. 2. Many will not know where they are going until June.
Garry, Kilrea.

Verbal confusion continues; too many words but little sense.
Pilib, Belfast

Is Mrs Ruane wrecking our education system, taking away a system without one to replace it and destroying our classroom assistants who help the most needy?
Anon

How is this woman in charge of our education system? She hasn't got a clue.
Anon

I hope Jim Fitzpatrick will be as antagonistic and rude when interviewing unionists?
Anon

Where do they go at 11?
J Bradford.

Clear as mud; this minister must go.
Anon

I want my child to take the exam. That daft woman has no right to say that my son can not have the chance to go to a school he wants to go to.
Anon

Answer the question! Our schools are on the road to ruane.
Simon, Belfast.

I want to hear the minister's answers. For goodness sake let her speak!
Anon

So much for the DUP's promise of preserving the education system which is the best in the UK.
Anon

If you remove the 11-plus, the only differential between children is essentially money. Academic selection is the only fair way for children.
Anon

What's this woman talking about. I am more confused than when she started. She's just waffling. Change can be good but she's not explaining anything.
Anon

The interviewer needs to learn some good manners.
Anon

Jim, shut up and listen and you and we might learn something.
John, Luton

Would the Education Minister please answer the question put to her and stop skirting round the subject and putting a political spin on it.
Anon

Is it only Protestant schools which will be affected? Or is it equality for all?
Anon

Who does she think she is? Ian Paisley?
Tom, north Belfast.

This woman talks the same talk as she did as spokeswoman for the Colombia Four.
Anon

Could Jim let the minister Speak?
Anon

Why do we have an education minister who is going round in circles about academic selection. Give the job to an MLA who can do the job.
Patrick, Newcastle.

Maybe Sinn Fein want to water down our education to such an extent, so that we will just buy their nonsense without question.
Anon

That presenter is terrible. What's the point of interviewing the minister if you don't let her answer the questions!
Anon

I have no idea what the education minister is proposing.
Anon

Why someone from southern Ireland dictating what is goes on in the north?
Anon

Angry Aggie queen of waffle.
Anon

Education will mean nothing if idiots are treated like genii.
PJ in Derry.

The Minister hasn't mentioned the pupil profiles we are beginning to put together. Has she forgotten?
Anon

Tell her to shut up.
Anon

This minister is trying to avoid questions.
Anon

Being from the SF heartland, west Belfast, I'm embarrassed by C. Ruane. Marks for people skills: zero-minus.
Anon

My daughter is in P5. What is going to happen to her? I am a teacher and I don't know. Maybe the Minister would enlighten me?
Anon

Does the Minster know what she is talking about? She does not speak for best interests of my children!
Anon

I welcome change, it's good for everyone.
Edel, Florencecourt.

Ultimately, public consultation and parents will decide, not dictator Ruane. Come clean and tell us what you do not know.
Anon

I am confused to the point that your woman there still didn't answer any of those questions she was asked despite being very rude.
Anon

Minister keeps saying 'Let me answer my question!' When does she ever intend answering everybody else's question?
Anon

As usual it was a waste of time listening to the Education Minister.
Anon

I am so glad we have an education minister who knows what is needed for our children.
Gemma, Newcastle.

Caitriona Ruane is doing a great job.11-plus is unfair. The only exam a child cannot repeat, unlike O level and A level.
Anon

Give the minister a chance to answer.
Anon

I'd be interested to know where you ask for opinions about Paisley Jnr. I certainly don't support his actions nor does anyone I know.
People in Portrush.

Ask her why is it her two children go to grammar school in Northern Ireland?
Anon

Your man Jim is so ignorant he may not want to listen to Ms Ruane but I certainly hated his interruptions.
Anon

I'm a constituent of Ian Paisley Jnr, he's not representing me by supporting private developers.
Anon

Glad I've no children. I would not be happy at the so-called minister leading them blindly into something she clearly knows nothing about.
Barry in Derry.

The Education Minister should stick to what she knows best, flights from Colombia.
Anon

My child's school is no longer serving hot meals at lunch time, surely that is not right? Especially in the winter.
Anon

What a waste of time. The Education Minister didn't give an answer to one question! Why on earth is she in charge of our children's education?
Anon

How can it be democracy for one minister to say no more 11-plus? This is dictatorship. What gives her the right?
Anon

Give the Minister a chance, leave questions to end.
Marge, County Down.

Thank goodness my daughter got through grammar school before the Minister destroyed our excellent education.
Anon

As a parent and teacher I am still not clear on what the future holds for children after the 11-plus. The minister needs to give clear and concise answer.
Anon

There now I was so angry at your interruptions I missed what the elected Minister was saying. Thank you very very much.
John Luton.

Your presenter behaved like one of the ignoramuses in the Assembly this week. He should have let her answer the questions we need to hear.
Anon

Ian og hasn't got the political brains to build a Wendy house never mind a visitors' centre.
Tom Flanagan, Belfast.

Give the minister a chance to answer.
Anon

Does the Minister not know that the younger a child is, the easier it will be for that child to get over any pressure at 11 years rather than 14 years?
Anon

I will never vote for Sinn Fein again. Caitriona Ruane needs to admit she has made a mistake and leavet he 11-plus the way it is. She is going to fail all our kids.
Anon

We will never have clarity on educational change. Such rudeness from an interviewer! Pathetic. She was not allowed to answer one question.
Anon

The SDLP is the only party in the Assembly delivering the truth.
Anon

Over my dead body will my kids go to a school that they are either not fit for or overly fit for. This world consists of those who are smart and those who are not.
Anon

I am so annoyed at the Caitriona Ruane, she calls herself an education minister. I don't think so.
Anon

I think as a parent, and every other parent and teacher that I know, think the 11-plus should stay and the Education Minister should go.
Anon

Why can the Minister not answer any question? Does she not know the answers? Seems like it. Pure waffle.
Anon

My son is going to be one of the guinea pigs. Now I'm really worried.
Anon

I'm lost. I have a daughter in P5 now that will be one of the first not to do her 11-plus. I don't want her staying in primary till 14.
Julie, Belfast.

Why won't the Minister answer the question and tell what the proposals are?
David, Ards.

Could you please tell Jim to shut up and let the woman talk. He is so rude.
Anon

Tell her to answer the bloody question. my child is in P5. We don't know what is happening, neither do the teachers.
Anon

Will the interviewer stop interrupting her? You are thoroughly unwatchable!
Anon

Tell her to get her so-called act back to the south and stay in it!
Anon

Get her out; she's a disgrace to the human race.
Anon

I am a parent wanting guidance; I can't understand what the Minister is saying. Helen Belfast.
Anon

Stop butting in Jim. Don't you understand the process of an interview?
Anon

Could you please ask that woman where the North is? The pole? This country has a name not a geographical position.
Joan, Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

She will not answer any question. The teachers do not know what is happening. She is talking rubbish.
Anon

Jim is showing his bias as a grammar school pupil.
Anon

C Ruane. She's a minister not a self-styled dictator. Or is she?
Brian.

I sat the 11-plus in 1990 and that was supposed to be the last year. Time unionists stopped messing about with our kids and got on with it.
Anon

Instead of two one-hour 11-plus tests, North Down schools are proposing to have three one-hour entrance tests! How can this be an improvement?
Anon

Jim is being a good broadcaster. Caitriona can talk straight.
Anon

Caitriona seems to be a bit angry. She is not in control. Why, one wonders?
Anon

I'm all for academic selection, but my God you need to sack that interviewer. He irritates me! Is he not right in the head?
Anon

Northern Ireland is geographically a small place. Much bigger countries don't require selection. As a teacher I see the devastating long term affects of the 11-plus on children. It should be abolished!
Anon

I chose to stay in Northern Ireland in favour of Sweden because of the quality of education. Would someone with brains please make this woman resign.
Anon

Ian og should resign this is not just Belfast issue. Also, I'm surprised Jim has lasted five years when he doesn't let people answer the questions that he asks.
Anon

Why are commissioners being paid 65 grand a year of taxpayers money to pay out billions compensation from taxpayers money?
Anon

Having inadvertently tuned into the politics show today, I have to say I witnessed a despicable attempt by the host Jim Fitzpatrick to badger and bully an interviewee whose name I believe is Caitriona Ruane. It was quite clear from what I witnessed that Mr. Fitzpatrick was basing his interview tactics on some inner prejudice, it was as if he didn't want the woman on the show, perhaps Mr. Fitzpatrick should rethink his chosen career or else interview guests in a fair manner, regardless of their political origins. All credit is due to Caitriona Ruane for handling the interview with dignity, many people would have simply got up and walked out, Mr. Fitzpatrick persistently interrupted her and rarely allowed her complete her answer, to which she consistently returned and completed. If Mr. Fitzpatrick had allowed her the time and space to fulfill her side of the interview then maybe he could spot the chinks in the armour of her reply, instead he made himself look like a chauvinist! A bigoted excuse for a political interviewer
Gerry O'Connor, Republic of Ireland

I wish to comment on the current debate concerning the future of selection, having just watched the Minister being interviewed. As a Year Seven teacher of 30 years experience I totally disagree with the minister's analysis of the present situation and her proposals for the future. The grammar schools meet the needs of academic pupils extremely well and need perhaps some slight tweaking in their provision, but most certainly should be retained. The non grammar section I feel does require major overhaul in terms of curriculum. But the grammar section should not be made to pay for the failure of the non grammar section. I also have never experienced major trauma with any child sitting the transfer tests, this point is, in my experience, a myth. A little anxiety yes, but generally quickly forgotten. Also something that is overlooked is that the transfer tests are entirely voluntary and no child is pressurised into sitting the tests. The minister was not brought up in our system, I think I'm right and it's difficult for her to understand how many of us feel so supportive of our grammar schools. I believe it is the best system. I certainly believe in excellence for all but abolishing selection will never guarantee this, this is not the root of the problem at all, I feel the minister is beginning to realise this, but lacks ths courage to admit her mistake.
Linda Gerard, Belfast.

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