Robin Swann urged to step in over transfer test row

Health Minister Robin Swann has now been urged to intervene.

The transfer test organisation AQE had confirmed in recent days its intention to go ahead with examinations on Saturday, despite almost all pupils in Northern Ireland having been told to stay away from school on public health grounds.

The SDLP, Sinn Fein and the Alliance Party have been calling for the exams to be halted.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill yesterday urged the Education Minister to “to act now and provide clarity” at today’s meeting of the Executive.

The Sinn Fein deputy leader added: “The transfer tests should not proceed.”

The News Letter understands, however, that Mr Weir does not intend to bring forward any proposal to try and halt the exams - which are set by private organisations not under the direct control of his department.

The Alliance Party’s Paula Bradshaw, meanwhile, has urged Health Minister Robin Swann to intervene as she suggested the private examinations could be “seem contrary to current coronavirus regulations.”

She said: ““Ultimately it falls to the Health Minister, whose regulations these are and who said before Christmas the objective is to get people to stay home as in March, to make a clear statement on whether he regards large gatherings in indoor halls to be legal within the regulations, and what the exact risk associated with them is. He must make an urgent statement.”

A spokesperson for Mr Swann’s department said: “Pupils previously shielding or with a family member who was previously shielding due to being identified as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ can continue to attend school. This is also the case for those who are ‘vulnerable’ to COVID-19. Children who have symptoms of COVID should not attend school. They should stay at home and their parents should arrange a COVID test. In addition, children who live in a household with someone who has symptoms of COVID or who has confirmed COVID should not attend school.

“Also see the Department of Education’s guidance for public examinations, while mainly aimed at GCSE and A level type exams, recommends distancing of at least 2m between exam candidates who are not in the same ‘bubble’.”

In a statement, Education Minister Peter Weir said he has “highlighted the need to both the schools hosting the tests and the test providers, to ensure all exam centres are fully risk-assessed and both the location and logistics of the tests must be compatible with public health guidance”.

“A range of protective measures are being put in place for the tests,” he added. “There cannot be any compromise with ensuring the safety of our children and families.”