The DUP has criticised the Education Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness, over his intention to abolish the 11-plus transfer tests, which determine whether pupils in Northern Ireland are admitted to grammar or comprehensive schools. Mr McGuinness had described the tests as "inhumane", "antiquated" and "nothing short of psychological and emotional blackmail".
The DUP, however, said the minister was "blinded by his own past" and set on a collision course with a large section of the Assembly if he wished to abolish the tests. Meanwhile, a number of children's organisations have welcomed Mr McGuinness's campaign to stamp out bullying in schools. At an event in Belfast aimed at highlighting homophobic bullying, an Assembly member for the Women's Coalition, Ms Jane Morrice, said homophobic bullying was one of the last "acceptable bigotries" in society and urgently needed to be addressed by politicians.