EXPANSION of nursery schools will be the first priority of a Labour government in Northern Ireland, the shadow education minister, Mr Tony Worthington, promised.
He also told the UTU conference in Belfast that he supported comprehensive education and would commission, research on the impact of selection at the age of 11, especially on schools serving deprived areas and tackling the most difficult problems.
"You must redouble your efforts to persuade the public of the merits of comprehensive education, and so, must I," he said.
Mr Worthington strongly attacked British government proposals to introduce nursery vouchers for four year olds.
He wanted proper nursery education because "there are substantial long term gains made by children who have, early years's education." The scheme was "in credibly bureaucratic".
Other priorities of a Labour government would be reducing class sizes for early year pupils, tackling the large amount of under achievement among school leavers improving the stock of buildings and developing further education.