Expert Defends Education Reforms in Northern Ireland
The independent expert who conducted a review of the curriculum taught in Northern Ireland's schools has stated that the education reforms are not "right-wing" in nature.
Lucy Crehan responded to questions from Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) during a session of Stormont's Education Committee on Wednesday.
Crehan, who has extensively studied the world's highest performing education systems, was appointed by Education Minister Paul Givan in 2024 to review Northern Ireland's curriculum.
"If anything I would say it's more aligned with a left-wing view of the importance of equality, and closing the disadvantage gap,"she told MLAs.
Her review was completed in June 2025 and forms part of a series of education reforms introduced by Minister Givan.
The curriculum review recommended several measures, including that primary school children be taught languages other than English and that there be increased instruction on digital technology in schools.
Discussion on Evidence and Political Alignment
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason questioned Crehan on whether she believed the minister was "cherry-picking" evidence to support his education reforms.
Crehan replied that she did not think Givan was selectively using evidence and expressed her support for his reform agenda.
"There is this idea that a knowledge-rich curriculum is somehow associated with right-of-centre or right-wing politics,"she said.
"If anything, I would say it's more aligned with a left-wing view."
However, Crehan also shared her personal preference for an education system based on "comprehensive" schools rather than grammar schools.
Academic Selection and Curriculum Impact
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan commended Crehan's work but inquired why her curriculum review did not address the impact of academic selection and the transfer test on primary school teaching.
In Northern Ireland, most grammar schools admit pupils through academic selection, with the transfer test taken by Primary Seven pupils. This test has been a subject of controversy.
"In schools here, sometimes from Primary Five onwards, children are taught to the exam rather than to the curriculum,"Sheehan stated.
Crehan acknowledged her personal stance on selection is publicly known.
"If I was starting from scratch with an education system, I would introduce a comprehensive education system rather than a selective one."
She clarified that her review was specifically tasked with examining changes to the Northern Ireland curriculum.
"Changes to the curriculum will guard against - not completely mitigate I must admit - some of the detrimental effects of that selection test on the skewing of the curriculum,"she explained.
Crehan noted that currently, primary school teaching can be "driven" by the transfer test.
Sheehan pressed further, asking if Crehan accepted that even with a new curriculum, academic selection would continue to distort teaching since it is expected to remain for the foreseeable future, according to the minister.
"Yes, I think it will still have an effect,"Crehan responded.
Recent Education Changes Announced
Minister Givan has recently announced several major changes to education in Northern Ireland, including modifications to GCSE and A-Level qualifications, such as the elimination of AS-Levels.
Additionally, children in Northern Ireland will undertake new national assessments in Reading, Maths, and Science at primary school and in Year 10.
