AQO 500/22-27 Oral question to the Minister for the Economy
To ask the Minister for the Economy, further to the framework Developing a More Strategic Approach to 14-19 Education and Training, when will the agreed measures of success for the 14-19 landscape be published.
Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 23 May 2024
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 23 May 2024
- Answer due by
- 3 June 2024
- Answered
- 3 June 202411 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for the Economy
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 3 June 2024. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mr C Murphy
The 14-19 framework is a joint endeavour between my Department and the Department of Education. The Minister of Education and I have met to discuss our approach to the work and our shared priorities, taking account of the current education and skills environment. As a first step, we have prioritised careers as a priority area for delivery and have tasked officials from our Departments to produce a joint programme of work. That indicates our commitment to collaboration in the interests of young people. On the wider framework, the Minister of Education and I will be considering how best to prioritise the other elements of the framework, building on that collaborative approach and using insights from stakeholders on the ground.
Mr Mathison
I thank the Minister for his answer. He will be aware that a joint Economy and Education Committee met last week, at which officials from both Departments were clear that no action plan would be published in relation to the strand of work on careers advice that the Minister referred to. How can the Assembly hold your Department to account if there are no targets, benchmarks or outcomes against which to measure your work?
Mr C Murphy
A report was published, I believe, when the Assembly was down, from which flowed an implementation plan. I think that that is what the Member is referring to. That was used for internal guidance for officials on how they brought that work forward. I understand that there were no plans to publish that, but I am sure, given that the officials came before both Committees, that they are keen to engage and to ensure that the Committees and, indeed, the Ministers who have tasked them with that area of joint responsibility are kept up to date on the progress that they are making. We have been clear that we want to begin with careers. We want to ensure that careers advice is available to all young people in a consistent manner. We want that to be, if you like, a pathfinder to get that joint area of work up and running between the two Departments, which will be essential for young people. We are keen to develop that early and to push on with the rest of that agenda. We will be happy to keep you and the Committees updated on any progress.
Madam Principal Deputy Speaker
I call Colin McGrath. No? OK. I call Diane Dodds.