COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING

Committee Response to Department for Education and Employment’s Consultation Document "Building a Stronger Network: Developing the Role of National Training Organisations"

BUILDING A STRONGER NETWORK:

Developing the Role of National Training Organisations

If you would like to comment on the issues in this consultation paper, you may find it convenient to do so on this sheet. If so, please photocopy these sheets or detach them after completing the sections below and return to the Consultation Unit, Area 1B, Castle View House, PO Box 12, East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 2GJ by Thursday 12 April 2001.

Name: Dr Esmond Birnie MLA, Chairman

Address: Room 359D, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast

Post Code: BT4 3XX

Organisation: Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee

Please tick below to tell us who you are (tick one box only).

Other (please state)

Your response may be made public unless you indicate otherwise. Is your response confidential?

YES c NO þ (tick one box only)

Question 1: Do you agree that this assessment has identified the key issues facing the NTO network, and with the main conclusions drawn? (paragraphs 2.9 – 2.17)

YES þ NO c (tick one box only)

Even though the current structural arrangements in Northern Ireland are very different from Great Britain, the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee supports the aims that are aspired to in paragraphs 2.9 – 2.17. The Committee considers it essential that these functions are carried out in an efficient, transparent and easily understood manner. Lessons should be learnt from the weaknesses identified in section 2.13.

Question 2: Do you agree that these are the three core roles that NTOs should undertake in the future? (paragraphs 3.4 – 3.18)

YES þ NO c (tick one box only)

The Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee supports the three core roles and recommends that somebody, be it National Training Organisations (NTO’s) and/or Sector Training Councils (STC’s) along with the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment needs to carry out all these roles across all sectors in NI. The Committee is aware that some new developments are at an early stage eg a NI consultative forum. These should be brought to a speedy conclusion and a province wide structure should be agreed and implemented so that the three key roles are undertaken and secondly that all involved are fully aware of the entire picture.

Currently the following Sector Training Councils operate in Northern Ireland:

The STC’s do not cover the entire NI workforce. Also the NTO’s which operate in NI have their formally recognised remit limited to national occupational standards and NVQ purposes.

A new Northern Ireland solution should address the current gaps, with minimal bureaucracy.

Question 3: Do you agree that these elements should form the basis of a strategic process for sector skills planning and action in Great Britain? (paragraphs 3.21 – 3.25)

YES þ NO c (tick one box only)

Whilst the question is specific to GB, the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee considers that this strategic process should also be incorporated into an agreed future NI structure. The outcome of this will be a better-equipped workforce and a more competitive economy.

The Committee also seeks reassurance that NI will be adequately represented on GB bodies to ensure the strategic process in NI continues alongside GB developments.

Question 4: How should NTO Groups and cross-sector NTOs be changed to provide a greater strategic approach to tackling broader sector issues? (paragraphs 3.42 – 3.44)

The Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee supports in principle, the overall consolidation process as implemented by LANTRA. In addition the Committee recognises that the eventual structure in NI must mirror the future GB structures whilst recognising the much smaller workforce (680,000) in NI. It is essential that NI bodies can link directly and efficiently to those in GB whilst maintaining its links with the Republic of Ireland.

The Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee considers it important that the GB changes should also take full account of the European situation and the ever more mobile workforce. It recognises that mutual recognition of qualifications across the Continent is becoming a significant issue.

Question 5: Do you agree that the critical success factors essential for a smaller network with larger and stronger NTOs have been correctly identified? (paragraphs 3.27 – 3.54)

YES þ NO c (tick one box only)

The key issue is the need to raise employers’ (companies’) awareness of the need to invest in NTO’s roles and functions – eg with regard to investment in labour market research. It is essential that the important role of employers is fully recognised and they are encouraged to take a central and meaningful role.

The Committee also supports the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment view that sound research as conducted by the NI Skills Taskforce is very important to identify the wider skills needs.

The Committee supports the consideration of NTO groups as set out under point 3.38. The chosen route for NI’s future structure should deliver the outcomes at a reasonable cost.

The Committee also recognises the critical importance of SME’s in the NI economy and future proposals must ensure they are fully catered for.

Question 6: Do you agree that the proposed categories of strategic indicators will make a useful contribution to the development of the network and delivery of improved sector skills? (paragraphs 3.58 – 3.60)

YES þ NO c (tick one box only)

The Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee considers that it is vital that measurable outcomes are set so that objective monitoring, reviewing and evaluation can be undertaken. The Committee supports the adage of what gets measured gets done.

Secondly, the achievement of meaningful and measurable outcomes can be set alongside the total costs so that the funders can assess value for money.

Comments with specific relevance to Northern Ireland.

The Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee is supportive of the aims and objectives laid out in the document, ‘Building a Stronger Network: Developing the Role of National Training Organisations’. We have approached our consideration of the proposals recognising the fact that NTO’s generally have a much narrower range of responsibilities and coverage in NI.

The Committee is concerned that the authorities, agencies and bodies in NI get the architecture and links right, in terms of ensuring that STC’s work along with NTO’s to avoid duplication. In addition, the Committee seeks the Northern Ireland outcome to be easily understood by employees, employers, educators and trainers and to ensure the current gaps in coverage are rectified.

The final outcome must ensure that those responsible have the authority, support and financial resources to deliver in this highly important area for the future competitiveness of the NI economy. The outcome in Northern Ireland should be a simple, transparent structure, inclusive of the entire economy with a clear focus on measurable outcomes.

Members also consider that the public and private partnership relationship should be properly addressed, clarified and agreed.

Esmond Birnie

Dr Esmond Birnie MLA

Higher & Further Education, Training & Employment Committee