The Committee for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment is forwarding its preliminary findings on careers education and guidance following Mr Shannon's offer, at the meeting in Adelaide House of 5 April 2001, to consider the Committee's initial views. I must stress that these are our preliminary views based on the written evidence submitted and oral evidence taken to date as part of the Inquiry into "Education and Training for Industry." Members will want to make a more comprehensive response at a later date, following scrutiny of the report on the review of careers education and guidance and more detailed examination of the Committee's own evidence.

The key points arising from evidence taken by the Committee to date are:

Several sources (including BIFHE, CBI, Munster Simms, SELB) stressed the importance of career education and guidance being improved. It was also emphasised that the service must be impartial, comprehensive and up-to-date. One example given was that careers guidance should not be solely influenced by institutions looking to recruit students, as they could not be seen as being independent. Several witnesses, including ANIC, questioned whether academic courses were being promoted in preference to vocational courses. At our most recent evidence session in Craigavon, the Mayor of Craigavon, Councillor Fred Crowe stated, "At present careers guidance is not being tackled properly."

It was generally stated that those giving careers advice required additional training to further their knowledge of both the current and future needs of industry. Evidence from Galen clearly demonstrated that teachers were unaware of opportunities for chemistry graduates in this local company. One set of witnesses from Munster Simms went as far as to state that teachers and Training and Employment Agency employees are the worst people to deliver such a service because they work in an environment closed off from the world of industry and commerce. Shorts registered the need to carefully consider the quality of advice at secondary level.

Preliminary analysis of the evidence would also indicate that much stronger links between careers teachers and industry needed to be forged, to determine current and future requirements. Munster Simms wished to ensure that a mechanism was established to feed skills shortages into the education system. On the other hand, DHFETE officials stated that having the careers service within the T&EA meant that the service could access a wide range of relevant information held by the Department.

Members were concerned at the differing levels of service provided to individual schools and that this could lead to inequalities. It was also felt that careers teachers need to be accredited (Confederation of British Industries).

Careers information should be made more available and kept up-to-date via the Internet (CBI). Whilst this increases access, it would also allow the information to be presented in an interesting and stimulating form for the main target audience of school children. The Committee stresses that access for all must be the aim to avoid the "digital divide." This could also help to engage parents, who have a very strong influence over their childrens' career choice. This was stated as an important issue by Galen and Hastings Hotel Group. The parental influence was also highlighted in the recommendations of the 1995 review by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland and the T&EA.

It was widely recognised that strong and meaningful partnerships between education establishments and all parts of industry are vital and the Committee recognises the importance of the work of NIBEP. Again, the Committee wishes to register its disappointment that NIBEP's bid was unsuccessful in the last round of Executive Programme Bids. The Committee holds the view that industry-related competitions to develop students' awareness, inventiveness and entrepreneurial and business skills such as Young Enterprise should be encouraged and fully supported by all. Furthermore, industry should be taking the lead in careers events etc (Association of Northern Ireland Colleges).

In conclusion, I must re-emphasise that these views should be treated as the Committee's preliminary findings as we have more to learn. The Committee for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment looks forward to receiving the report from the working group chaired by Professor Sean Fulton in due course.

Chairman
3 May 2001