1 April 2011 Last updated at 16:42

NI election issues guide: Education

Education is one of the powers devolved to Stormont.

Key issues include post-primary academic selection and the level of university tuition fees.

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Election issues 2011
Education
DUP	Sinn Fein	UUP	SDLP	Alliance	Green	TUV
Produce a roadmap for a single education system Increase investment in the foundation years Expand programmes to improve literacy Legislate to improve special educational needs provision Ensure no one is priced out of a university education.	Create an all-Ireland education system Cut back on bureaucracy and ensure that more resources are put into frontline services Build more new schools on the basis of area needs Increase the availability and resources of Irish language education Continue to support the Sinn Fein minister's decision to abolish academic selection for secondary education in NI Extend the entitlement to free school meals for children Oppose student tuition fees Support a new fees regime which helps older people to become involved in life-long learning	Continue to call for a reprioritisation of executive funds so the current cap on tuition fees can be retained Prioritise Early Years Intervention including making pre-school education a universal entitlement Continue to support academic selection; find a genuine, long-term resolution to the post primary transfer process Ensure continuous streaming as well as devolving more power and flexibility to head teachers to interpret the curriculum	Abolish academic selection for secondary education Better provision for nursery and primary school children Oppose any increase in university tuition fees Support the Irish medium sector to ensure that pupils and teachers have equality with those in other sectors Monitor implementation of the SDLP's Autism Act to ensure people with autism, have access to the services they require	Address segregation in education and deliver more shared and integrated schooling Create an Education and Skills Authority to improve governance in education and save money End academic selection at age 11 Prevent large increases in university tuition fees Invest in early years and child care provision Provide independent careers advice to all young people	Oppose any rise in student fees and put forward proposals to scrap fees altogether Oppose academic selection. Take the onus off pure academic achievement and find a system where creativity and practical skills are credited as well Early years services should be universally available	Parental choice is most important Promote excellence in grammar and secondary schools through adequate funding Reject wasting resources on Irish language schools Freeze university tuition fees at current levels for Northern Ireland students