Since 2002 seven people in my Department have been granted leave in excess of two months for educational purposes.
One officer is currently undertaking the masters programme in public policy analysis. The programme is a two-year full time programme involving academic study and projects in public policy evaluation. Upon successful completion of the programme, the officer will return to my Department on promotion and will work in public policy analysis. If this officer leaves the Civil Service within two years of completing the course, the officer will refund all costs associated with the course.
A total of six staff in my Department have availed of unpaid leave for study purposes under the Department of Finance circular 18/98 — special leave without pay for career breaks. These applications are detailed below:
Career Break for Study Purposes
Year
|
Number of Staff
|
2002
|
1
|
2003
|
1
|
2004
|
2
|
2005
|
2
|
Once staff members meet the eligibility criteria under the career break scheme, no further terms or conditions relating to academic achievement are attached by my Department, to the granting of such unpaid leave. Staff members concerned are not required to provide any further details in respect of their planned educational course.