Transfer test: Education Minister Peter Weir told to act ‘before events take over’ by UUP

This comes amid mounting pressure for the cancellation of plans by a private exams body - the AQE - to hold an exam on February 27 due to the coronavirus pandemic..

The Northern Ireland Executve discussed the issue last week, with opposition to the plan coming from Sinn Fein, the Alliance Party and the SDLP.

The DUP, who hold the post of Education Minister through their MLA Peter Weir, are opposed to plans to call off the test.

Mr Weir is expected to submit a paper on the issue at a forthcoming meeting of the Executive.

UUP MLA Robbie Butler, who last week submitted an alternative plan that would see primary seven pupils scored on their performance in mock exams rather than having to sit a formal test, has now warned Mr Weir that events could overtake him.

“Time is running on and it is crucial that the Education Minister starts to actively work on alternatives for this year`s AQE transfer rather than waiting for events to take over,” he said.

“I am very willing to work with the Education Minister, schools, principals, teachers, parents, unions, representative bodies and the Education Authority to deliver this, but time is not on the Minister`s side or our children`s, so we need to see immediate and tangible engagement.”

Meanwhile, a Catholic bishop has said business interest “should not dominate the conversation” about whether the test should go ahead.

Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown told the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme the testing process had become a business.