October 2000

Committee for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment: Response to Departmental Bids

Statement of the Committee

This paper is the response of the Committee to the Department in relation to the Department's bids to the Spending Review. In the time allowed, the Committee have prioritised the bids proposed by the Department, we have not considered whether the quantum of individual bids is sufficient to meet needs in a particular area. The Committee wish to express their thanks to the Department and its officials for the material and assistance provided.

The Committee believe that the Department requires greatly increased resources across a number of areas. In particular the Committee believe that an expansion of places in both the Higher and Further Education sectors is imperative if Northern Ireland is to prosper, and become a fairer society. The Committee also believe that the Department has a role to play in addressing basic literacy and numeracy in the adult population and those young people who currently participate in neither training nor work. (However, we recognise the Department of Education's important contribution, largely based around schools).

The Committee further believe that the two issues of social inclusion and economic development are inseparable in the Department's work, and that opportunity for all, for the benefit of all, should be sought.

The Committee note that new legislation has given rise to increased statutory responsibilities under the Department's remit. It is clearly essential that these areas be appropriately resourced. The Committee also recognise that additional statutory requirements in relation to improving access to services for those with disabilities are imminent. The Committee believe that it is imperative that the Department's services are available to all and that the Department complies with the statutory requirements.

The Committee believe that, when comparisons are drawn with other parts of the United Kingdom, and with the Republic of Ireland, in recent years, there has been historical under-investment in Northern Ireland's higher and further education sectors. Additional resources are necessary to permit the development of new facilities (including keeping abreast of significant advances in information and communications technology), to support development of new teaching methods, to allow the institutions and other providers to embrace change and improve their services, and to compete with the best.

Finally the Committee believe that these changes can only be brought about by a Department that is adequately resourced to face the challenge.

The Committee broadly endorse the Department's proposals, subject to the following commentary.

Findings of the Committee in relation to the individual components of the bids

This section summarises the Committee's views as to the individual bids that the Department is putting forward to the spending review. The Committee, acting on information provided by the Department about its bids as at Annex 1, have set a quantum alongside essential and critically important bids. Committee Members would however require further information (e.g. on underlying assumptions) to comment more fully on the quantum of these and other individual bids.

The Committee find bids in respect of the following areas:

1. essential to meet inescapable requirements that arise through new statutory responsibilities:

And to become essential when statutory requirements are introduced:

2. critically important to the delivery of the Department's objectives:

3. very high priority:

Maintaining Services
HE - Higher Education Pay Structure
Preparation for Work - disabled persons entering work
Non Participating Young People
Lifelong learning
Core Departmental Services
Expansion of FE - Priority Skills (Skills Taskforce).

4 high priority:

HE - Irish Medium Teacher Training (consistent with needs identified by Department of Education)
Expansion of FE - Further Education Capital (ICT)
Preparation for Work - Bus Ed / Job Seekers / Walsh Visa

5 desirable:

HE - Innovation (bus and community outreach) / HEROBC
HE - Foundation degrees
HE - ICT in HE
HE - Teacher Training Colleges

1 The Committee do not find any bid to be unwarranted.
2 However the Committee have not, within timescales provided, been able to secure adequate information on assumptions underlying the quantum of bids lodged by the Department.
3 Nor have the Committee been able to probe options for easement with the Department.
4 The quantum of the bid for Student Support is inconsistent with the Committee's recommendations in this area. We would therefore recommend that this bid be increased to facilitate the re-structuring of Student Support.
5 The Committee is of the understanding that the funds requested for the expansion of FE - Priority Skills (Skills Taskforce) is to provide training in particular knowledge based industries (eg software and tourism) to fill the skills gaps as identified by the Skills Taskforce.
6 There is an issue of principle regarding Irish Medium Teacher Training in Higher Education, in that although DHFETE is proposing to pay for this, the Department of Education will benefit from the output by way of the supply of trained teachers.
7 The Committee considers the bid under Preparation for Work - (Business Education / Job Seekers / Walsh Visa) as high priority. However, we felt it was unrealistic to consider these three areas collectively. The Committee has continuing concerns regarding the effectiveness and value for money achieved from the Walsh Visa Programme and therefore consider that the numbers entering the Programme may be reduced in the future.

Adult Training

An additional bid was drawn to the Committee's attention, through its Adviser, on 2 October, by the Department - this relates to Adult Training to complement New Deal. The Committee found the rationale for this bid to be clear and convincing and consider it to be highly desirable. We would hope for flexibility in the money allocated to the New Deal Programme, in that money for Adult Training could come from savings generated from a New Deal Programme tailored for Northern Ireland. The Committee believe that the development of skills in, and for, the workplace should be supported by the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. The Committee recognise how important it is for the Department to work co-operatively with the Department of Education. This should help focus the effort of schools towards lifelong learning, and towards further and higher education and training which will equip young people for meaningful participation in employment.

Cross Cutting Concerns

The Committee believe that the development of skills in, and for, the workplace should be developed with support from the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

The Committee recognise the continuing reality of underachievement in schools. Members believe that the interests of the 'non-participating young people' are best served by their never reaching this state, and that the Department of Education should continue to evaluate and develop policy in this area, jointly with DHFETE so as to promote effective intervention.

Minutes of 12 October 2000, section 7, para 2
Minutes of 26 October 2000
Minutes of 28 September 2000, Section 3, para 3.1