Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 6

Written Answers - Educational Attainment.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

92 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to recent comments made by a former Secretary of the Department of Education (details supplied) that the overall education attainment of the State's population of working age would still be below EU and OECD averages by 2015 unless there was an improvement in participation and completion rates; the steps, if any, he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25786/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

The OECD Report "Education Policy Analysis 1997" shows that 47 per cent of the Irish population in the 25-64 year age group have achieved upper second level education or higher, compared with an OECD average of 61 per cent.

I am committed to improving participation and completion rates in the education system and, in this regard, my Department has a range of strategies in place which are designed to achieve this objective. These include the development of Early Start centres; the allocation of additional resources to schools in disadvantaged areas; the Breaking the Cycle initiative; the home school community liaison scheme; an initiative designed to combat early school leaving among 8-15 year olds; curricular reforms to allow students to make choices relevant to their abilities and aptitudes; support for junior and senior centres for travellers; the free book scheme, and alleviation of examination fees for necessitous pupils.

The provision of second chance education is also being addressed through the expansion of Youthreach for unqualified early school leavers by 2637 places by FÁS and the VECs, allied with the introduction of guidance, counselling and psychological supports for the programme. In regard to the vocational training opportunity scheme which provides integrated education, vocational training and work experience for unemployed adults, my Department has equalised the payment of training allowances with those of the back to education allowance, and has removed the 10 per cent quota which limited participation of lone parents, those with disabilities and dependent spouses. In addition, provision for adult literacy services has been doubled in 1998. These developments have been accompanied by substantial progress in making national certification available for adults and young people who left school early through the work of the NCVA and NCEA. Work is also on schedule for the publication early in the new year of legislation to underpin the development of a national framework of qualifications for all extra university third and further level vocational education and training programmes. This will play a key role in promoting access and progression to second chance education and training.

The Green Paper — Adult Education in an Era of Lifelong Learning — was launched on 24 November 1998 and sets out a framework for the future development of adult education provision within a framework of lifelong learning, and points to a range of factors and international comparisons which make concerted investment in adult education an imperative in the years ahead. The paper proposes the development of a national adult literacy programme, a part-time back to education initiative for adults who have left school with less than upper secondary education, and a range of services to support access and progression, and structures for the co-ordination and integration of the work of a range of actors in the adult education field. The paper will be used as a basis for consultation and debate to enable the Government to define its priorities and to plan the development of the sector.