To ask the Minister of Education to detail any action his Department is taking to inform and educate young people about the value and usefulness of alternative qualifications and their equivalence to GCSE qualifications.

Through the Entitlement Framework, schools are required to offer access to a minimum of 21 courses at Key Stage 4 and Post-16, of which at least one third must be general and one third applied. This aims to ensure that schools provide access for pupils to a broadly based and balanced range of subjects and qualifications which meet the interests and progression needs of their pupils, whether that is in to training, employment, further or higher education opportunities.

It is the role of all teachers, including careers teachers, to ensure that learners are aware of these subject options and the progression pathways available through particular qualifications. Young people are further supported through independent, impartial information and advice provided by the Careers Service which has partnership agreements with each post primary school.

Through the joint careers action plan, my officials are working with colleagues in the Department for the Economy to implement several actions that will enhance the information available to young people and increase opportunities for work related learning and engagement in careers events.