Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has welcomed the call from the Catholic Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamonn Martin, for the suspension of academic testing.

The education spokesperson said:

“I welcome the call from Archbishop Eamon Martin In a letter to grammar schools for the suspension of academic testing given the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“A similar letter has also been sent by the Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown.

“Academic selection is wrong and unnecessary and puts undue pressure on children.

“This year in particular, with the necessary closure of schools, it would be completely unreasonable to expect children to sit high-pressure exams.

“Schools should heed the call of the Archbishop and suspend academic selection this year and indeed abandon it altogether.

“I would also call from schools from other sectors to also take the sensible decision to suspend academic selection.”