The issues at the centre of this dispute are as outlined in the reply to Question No. 157 of 12 October 2000.
In accordance with the procedures agreed in 1995, the assessment arrangements for phase four consists of two separate occasions of testing. Because some institutes have conducted both of these occasions of testing at the end of phase four the TUI, on behalf of its members, are seeking examination payments in respect of this testing on the basis that such testing constitutes a terminal examination.
Circular Letter IT 9/99, dated 6 August 1999, instructed institutes of technology to ensure that they adhere in future to the procedures agreed in 1995. Specifically they were instructed to ensure that there would not be any terminal examination at the end of phase four. As an exceptional measure, in the interests of resolving the matter, my Department authorised Institutes to make a once-off examination payment in the 1998-99 academic year where examinations had taken place at the end of phase four.
Since Circular Letter IT 9/99 was issued my Department has been in contact on a number of occasions with the institutes of technology involved in the apprenticeship programme and has had communications with representatives of the TUI in an effort to resolve the dispute.
Most recently, my Department wrote to the TUI on 15 September proposing that the union withdraw the instruction to its members regarding the submission of results for phase four assessments pending the outcome of an external syllabus review for phases four and six which has been initiated. In this letter it was pointed out that, arising from this review, the current assessment system for phases four and six may need to be modified to take into account syllabus changes and new practice in a number of trades. The TUI has not acceded to this request and efforts to resolve the dispute are ongoing.
