A-Levels a Stepping Stone to Greater Things - McCrea
UUP Education spokesman and Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea today commented on pupils receiving their A level results. In a statement Mr McCrea said,
“Today’s A level results demonstrate once again the excellence of our education system. Many young people will be delighted with their individual results and it is important that we as a society offer our congratulations to them, but it is also important to commend the efforts of teachers and parents who have supported them over the last seven years.
In today’s society some people seem overly eager to devalue the achievements of young people, but I believe that the record high marks now being achieved are the product of the hard work and perseverance by our young people who are able to take advantage of the first class education offered across Northern Ireland
Our society must recognise the value of education not only to the individual but to society as a whole. The world in which we live is changing rapidly and with each day that passes it becomes more and more apparent that the ability to learn is the only enduring competitive advantage.
Without encouragement and a supportive environment many of our young people would fail to maximise their potential, and they and our society would be unable to compete in the global economy.
Within the excellent results there will be those who will feel disappointed and there will be others whose personal triumph is overshadowed by those with higher grades. We must reassure them all, that A levels are merely “Stepping stones” to the next phase of their lives, they do not define an individuals worth, and in a few short years they will be a dim and distant memory. What happens next is the really important issue and the world is full of opportunity.
Our entire education system is under pressure and given the importance of education to long term prosperity this will alarm parents, teachers and pupils. Whilst there is an undoubted need to address the plight of those for whom the educational system has not been a success, we must be careful not “to through the baby out with bathwater”. Our education system is a precious thing, we must take care to nourish and protect it and we must take every opportunity to explain the benefits and encourage all sections of our community to take advantage of the opportunities presented.”