Skills Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2012

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Ceisteanna (589, 590)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

640 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the importance placed on the professional upskilling of the early childhood workforce in order to meet the targets and objectives associated with the national literacy and numeracy strategy 2011-2020, the changes that will be made to existing early childhood training programmes; the way this will be resourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11361/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)

Early childhood training programmes are designed to ensure that practitioners have the skills and competencies to provide for the holistic and developmental needs of babies and young children. The continuing validity of all training programmes is kept under review by the relevant Awarding bodies. The process of programme development and validation in further and higher education is as follows:

1. An application for programme development is made by a training provider to an awarding body, i.e., FETAC, HETAC or a University or IoT with delegated authority. The application will include rationale/identified need for the programme, proposed content, level of award, duration, delivery methods, assessment methods and quality assurance details.

2. Programme Development. Upon approval by the relevant awarding body, the education and training provider will develop the programme according to their proposal and will submit the detailed content for validation by the awarding body.

3. Programme validation. Programme validation is usually for a specified period of time after which programme review processes will have to be undertaken towards renewal of validation.

In line with this process and as set out in the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, my Department will work with the Awarding Bodies and other Government Departments to ensure that training courses in early childhood care and education continue to have validity.

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

641 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the focus of the workforce development plan for the early childhood care and education sector here in 2010 has shifted from developing and upskilling the early childhood workforce to standardising qualifications and training levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11362/12]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)

The Workforce Development Plan for the Early Childhood Care and Education sector set out the key areas that emerged from an extensive programme of research and consultation: These key areas are:

The necessity for clearly articulated professional pathways into and across professional domains of practice related to the care and education of children. These include occupational role descriptors with associated qualification levels.

The establishment of an agreed set of national standards for all awards in early childhood care and education (incorporating core knowledge, skills, competencies and work experience) across all relevant levels of the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland.

Access to flexible, affordable and nationally accredited learning opportunities at all levels of qualification for pre-service and in-service professional development.

The necessity to ensure consistent quality of ECCE courses nationally across a range of variables including content, delivery and work placement.

The publication by FETAC of Common Award Standards at Levels 4, 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications will ensure that there is consistent quality of ECCE courses across the country and will deliver on one of the key areas set out in the Workforce Development Plan. I view this as an essential building block for developing and upskilling the workforce.