Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
360 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the fact that there is a need to harmonise educational qualifications across the island of Ireland to ensure equality of access and opportunity for all the children of the island. [26638/04]
View answer361 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether there is a need to progress such harmonisation within an agreed time frame in view of the changes to the educational qualification system in both England and Northern Ireland. [26639/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 361 together.
We must respect the fact that education systems across the EU differ in how they prepare children and young people for participation in social and economic life, for active citizenship and for lifelong learning. The education system in Northern Ireland is closely aligned with that of England, Scotland and Wales and differs to that in the Republic, especially in regard to the treatment of upper secondary education.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has carried out a comprehensive public consultation process on the future direction of senior cycle education in Ireland. This concluded with the publication by the NCCA of Directions for Development — Developing Senior Cycle Education, which was presented at a national forum in Dublin Castle on 23 September 2003. The NCCA proposals set out a vision for the type of school system which might exist by 2010. The proposals for reform build on extensive consultation with stakeholders in Ireland as well as on research on developments in upper secondary education internationally.
The NCCA has submitted initial advice on the reforms in June 2004. This will be followed by a second stage at the end of the year which will include an elaboration of the possible configuration of subjects, short courses and transition units, details of how assessment might be managed, an analysis of the implications for staff development and infrastructure, and a detailed action plan for implementing the proposal. This will enable decisions to be made on implementation issues.
It would not be appropriate to seek to harmonise our education systems. Rather, policy is focused on seeking agreement on the alignment of the various levels of qualification in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, so that there will be clarity as to what levels qualifications are broadly comparable. This will provide important information for learners, employers and education institutions.
In that context, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland has hosted a network of qualifications and regulatory authorities in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom to promote co-operation and share practice, and consider the potential for aligning frameworks of qualifications and levels, or agreeing linkages. The network has had a number of meetings and a process is under way to develop a "ready reckoner" which will show key points of convergence of qualifications levels within the frameworks across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. This is expected to be ready at the end of the year.
In addition, under the framework of the North-South Ministerial Council, a North-South working group has been established, co-chaired by officials from the Department of Education and Science in the Republic and Department of Employment and Learning in the North to identify where recognition arrangements are not in place and need to be advanced and to report and make proposals in this area.
On 6 February 2004 it was announced that Irish leaving certificate awards at ordinary and higher level would be included, with effect from 2006, in the UCAS tariff, the points system for admission to higher education colleges in Northern Ireland and Britain.
In addition, the work is progressing at EU level on the implementation of the Bologna and Copenhagen process regarding common approaches to the transparency and quality of qualifications in higher education and vocational education and training, and is beginning on the development of a European framework of qualifications. The developments in Ireland regarding the national framework of qualifications in Ireland are attracting considerable international interest in that context.
During the Irish Presidency of the EU political agreement was reached on Europass, a set of transparency tools to improve information on qualifications, work experience and language proficiency which are now being introduced across the EU. Political agreement was reached on a draft consolidated EU directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
