Written Answers. - Consultant's Report.
Peadar Clohessy
Ceist:
75
Mr. Clohessy
asked the
Minister for Education
if she has studied the consultant's report carried out for FÁS and FORFÁS examining the role of education and training up to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[1768/97]
The FORFÁS Report Shaping our Future—A Strategy for Enterprise in Ireland in the 21st Century was published in May 1996. The findings in the report were informed by a number of consultancy studies on a variety of themes, including a study by Mclver Consulting entitled Vision 2010—Education and Training Study. Both reports focused on the development of a long-term strategy to promote the central role of enterprise in supporting economic and social progress in the period up to 2010.
My Department has a range of measures in place to address the changing needs of the economy in the years ahead. At primary level, the proposals in the Education White Paper, Charting our Education Future, provide for the enhancement of the science programme as an integral part of the curricular review now under way by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. At post-primary level a range of reforms have been introduced in senior cycle, focused on broadening the range of programmes on offer, and strengthening the enterprise, language, vocational and technological dimensions of courses. I have also established a steering group to develop proposals on the integration of information and communication technologies into first and second level education.
My Department, with the Higher Education Authority, works closely with the Department of Enterprise and Employment, FORFÁS and the IDA to ensure that changing skill needs are monitored and the education system is adapted to meet them. For example, additional places in computer software training have been approved in the university sector, a range of new courses have been introduced in regional technical college/DIT colleges in the computer, electronics and multi-media fields, and foreign language modules have been introduced in a range of business, engineering, technology, and tourism programmes. At post-leaving certificate level, new courses in teleservices have been provided.
There has been an increase in campus company activity, post-graduate industrial research, campus incubation facilities and participation in schemes such as Forbairt's applied research programme, and heads of development have been appointed in regional technical college/DIT colleges to enhance their capacity to support industry. Under the operational programme for industrial development specific funding has been made available for some of the recommendations proposed by the Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council.
A range of part-time courses have been developed in the third level sector to meet the needs of lifelong learning, with opportunities for the accumulation of credits towards awards. TEASTAS, the Irish National Certification Authority has been established to provide a forum for the active involvement of industry, with education and training interests, in programme design and certification for all extra-university vocational training in the education and training sectors. TEASTAS has been given a specific remit to develop a national qualifications framework, to provide for the accumulation of credits towards awards which are suitable for full-time or part-time courses, and to make arrangements for the accreditation of work-based and experiential learning.
These developments are being accompanied by intensive measures to address educational disadvantage at every level of the system, and an expansion of second chance education and training programmes such as Youthreach and the vocational training opportunity scheme.
