With the proposed abolition of the old system in executing entrance exams in schools in Northern Ireland, a new system is also expected to take over according to a top school official. The new system would give new meaning the way the exams are run in all schools in this part of the country. A group identified as Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has also recently lobbied on what kind of assessment exam would replace the old 11-plus examination more particularly in Northern Ireland.

According to reports from BBC news, the new plan is a welcome development since when the proposed system is implemented it would be able to introduce a new dimension in which the schools can freely implement their own selection exam test. This means freedom is absolutely given to these schools to plan for their own kind of examination. Sammy Wilson, the party’s spokesperson for education matters said when an agreement is reached grammar schools are given their own decision on some kind of selecting the incoming students based on the new exam selection. Wilson said the schools that would prefer to make their own selection process are free to do so or use their bespoke entrance examination format.

Catriona Ruano, the education minister, had earlier claimed the 11-plus examinations will be abolished this year but had not yet announced what to do next after the old system is already abolished. She said the education department had viewed the old system as outdated and could no longer be available for better and functional education system in Northern Ireland. The education minister did not also announce the future plans of the department on the proposed introduction of a new system in the conduct of entrance examinations to incoming students.

There are also reports that the new system is still to be debated among education scholars as well as top-ranking educators so that when there will be new system it would give even more benefits to students. School officials are already weary about the plans since this is already April 2008, while the minister of education had already announced the changes last year yet. It is predicted that the education department has not yet conducted surveys in top schools of the country as to the development of the proposed abolition of 11-plus examination format.