Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 6

Written Answers. - Educational Qualifications.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

230 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to recognise all or other programmes of study which may be offered by institutions which obtain HETAC recognition or to which there has already been granted degree awarding status by HETAC, having recognised Hibernia College as a suitable provider of teacher education programmes; his further plans to allow HETAC to validate all or other professional programmes currently offered by the university sector in order that other providers and institutions may also offer the programmes provided by the universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24177/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 provided for the establishment of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland and the Further and Higher Education and Training Awards Councils for the accreditation of non-university education and training awards at further and higher levels.

The role of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council is to establish policies and criteria for the making of higher education and training awards and the validation of programmes, to determine the standards of knowledge, skills and competences to be acquired by learners for an award, to make or recognise awards and to monitor the quality of programmes ensuring that providers have procedures for assessment of learners which are fair and consistent.

As a national awarding body, the primary concern that HETAC must have in relation to validating a programme leading to one of its awards is whether the programme meets the appropriate outcomes for an award and the associated quality assurance arrangements for the programme. The awarding service of HETAC is open to all public and private providers as is required under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999. There is no legal limit on the fields of learning in which HETAC may make awards.

Certain publicly funded providers such as institutes of technology, FÁS, Fáilte Ireland and Teagasc are generally required to submit programmes to HETAC for validation. The process whereby my Department approves for funding the running of a programme validated by HETAC in an institute of technology, for example, is separate from the HETAC validation process in that my Department does not approve for funding all programmes which have HETAC validation. There are no plans for immediate changes in my Department's policy approach in this regard.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

231 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if he availed of the advice of the Higher Education Authority in advance of the decision on granting recognition to the programme offered by Hibernia College; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24178/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

My Department did not seek the advice of the Higher Education Authority in relation to the recognition of the course referred to by the Deputy. The Minister for Education and Science is the designated authority for recognition of qualifications for purposes of employment for the regulated profession of primary teacher. Hibernia College contacted the Department as to whether its qualification would be recognised for the purpose of employment as a primary teacher.

The course concerned is accredited by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, HETAC, which was established under the terms of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999. The role of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council is to establish policies and criteria for the making of higher education and training awards and the validation of programmes outside the university sector, to determine the standards of knowledge, skills and competences to be acquired by learners for an award, to make or recognise awards and to monitor the quality of programmes ensuring that providers have procedures for assessment of learners which are fair and consistent.

The decision of the Minister is that he will recognise the qualification of graduate diploma in primary Education of Hibernia College qualification so long as all of the conditions set by HETAC are met, including those relating to quality assurance.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

232 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if HETAC procedures were fully complied with in the processing of the Hibernia College application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24179/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The Qualifications (Education and Training Act) 1999 provided for the establishment of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland and the Further and Higher Education and Training Awards Councils for the accreditation of non-university education and training awards at further and higher levels. The role of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council is to establish policies and criteria for the making of higher education and training awards and the validation of programmes, to determine the standards of knowledge, skills and competences to be acquired by learners for an award, to make or recognise awards and to monitor the quality of programmes ensuring that providers have procedures for assessment of learners which are fair and consistent.

The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is responsible for establishing the overall policies and criteria for the framework of qualifications and the procedures for the performance of the functions of the awards councils Hibernia College made an application to HETAC for validation of its graduate diploma in primary education in the format prescribed setting out the programme objectives and outcomes, structure and outline content, assessment arrangements for learners and facilities and staff expertise available. A panel of assessors examined the documentation and visited the college. The programme accreditation committee of HETAC considered its report and accredited the programme. A certificate of course approval was issued in July 2003.