Education is litmus test for the Executive

Sir Reg Empey has said that resolution of the education debacle is one of the Ulster Unionist Party's "litmus tests" of the Northern Ireland Executive's functionality, and will help us to determine whether it is sufficiently mature to take on policing and justice.

"The Ulster Unionist Party has long stated its concerns at the dysfunctional nature of the Executive, and we are determined to address its most glaring example - the failure to deal with the crisis in education.

"There is a shocking contrast between daily meetings to discuss parades, and the failure of the Executive to discuss education for two whole years.

"If the Executive cannot fix education - a power we currently have - then it is certainly not in any position to take on something as important as policing and justice.

"One of the tests we will be applying as to whether Stormont is fit to take on any more powers, is how education is dealt with in the coming weeks.

"It is intolerable that young children, parents and teachers have been plunged into an entirely unregulated system, putting children under greater stress than ever before. Sitting two and three exams, run by different sectors, is wholly unacceptable.

"Surely if we can address the parades issue with such vigour and determination, the same should apply to education."