MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FORTY SECOND MEETING OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS ON THURSDAY 22 MARCH 2001

Present: Mr D Kennedy (Chairman)
Mr S Wilson (Deputy Chairman)
Mrs E Bell
Mr O Gibson
Mr T Hamilton
Mr B McElduff
Mr G McHugh
Mr K Robinson

Apologies:Mr T Gallagher
Mr J Fee

In Attendance:Mrs C Darrah
Mrs J McMurray
Miss J Adair
Ms C Angelone

The Committee met at 10.28 a.m. in private session.

1.Minutes of the Meeting of 15 March 2001

The minutes of the meeting of 15 March 2001 were agreed.

2. Matters arising from the Minutes of Proceedings

1. Copies of the Committee response on the 'Myths & Reality' Report on

Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood had been circulated. Further information on the Equality Impact Assessment to be carried out on the draft Guidelines on Relationships and Sexuality Education had also been requested from the Department of Education.

1. Copies of the response to the Chairman of the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Inquiry into Public Private Partnerships and Private Finance Initiatives had been circulated.

3. Chairman's Business

1. The Chairman advised members that the Chief Executive of the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) had written offering to make a presentation to the Committee on the Council's Early Years research and the pilot programme based on a later start to formal education involving a number of primary schools. Members agreed that a suitable date should be identified for the presentation.
2. The Chairman discussed with members an invitation from the North Eastern Education and Library Board to attend a celebration of a Charter Mark Award on Wednesday 4 April.
3. The Chairman advised members that arrangements had been made for he and the Deputy Chairman to meet with representatives of the Craigavon Large Schools Principals Group to discuss funding issues on Monday 26 March. He invited any available members to attend the meeting.
4. The Chairman reminded members that the closing date for oral questions to the Minister for Education was Tuesday 27 March.

4. Evidence Session with the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools on Post-Primary Education (Public)

As part of the Committee's consideration of the Review of Post-Primary Education, the Chairman welcomed Mr Flanagan, Mr McArdle, Mr Davidson and Mr Lundy to the meeting. They gave oral evidence on the submission by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools to the Committee on post-primary education and this was followed by a detailed question and answer session. Areas discussed included:

• The need to set objectives for the education system before considering structures
• The need for education to reflect the requirements of society and industry and commerce and the need for a manpower analysis in Northern Ireland
• The need to provide meaningful choice by ensuring equality of esteem between academic and vocational education
• The most appropriate age of transfer to post-primary education
• The development of a culture of election rather than selection and the role of parents and pupils

Hansard recorded the evidence for publication in due course.

The Committee adjourned at 11.35 a.m. and reconvened at 2.00 p.m.

5. Discussion with Department of Education officials on the Bids for Executive Programme Funds (Private)

The Chairman welcomed Mr Woods and Mr Morrow to the meeting to discuss the bids by the Department of Education for the Executive Programme Funds. Mr Woods briefed the Committee on the background to the Executive Programme Funds and the Department of Education's bids. A detailed discussion of the bids under each of the 5 Fund headings and appropriate priorities ensued. Key issues discussed included the consequences if individual bids are not met by the Executive Programme Funds, the likelihood of bids being successful and the timeframe in which decisions would be made by the Executive.

Members agreed that a response based on the comments/views expressed during the discussion and the priorities identified should issue to the Minister of Education

6. Evidence Session with the Governing Bodies Association on Post-Primary Education (Public)

As part of the Committee's consideration of the Review of Post-Primary Education, the Chairman welcomed Mr Algeo, Mr McCallion, Dr Rodgers and Mr Miskelly to the meeting. They gave oral evidence on the Governing Bodies Association's submission to the Committee on post-primary education and this was followed by a detailed question and answer session. Areas discussed included:

• The deficiencies and benefits of the current transfer procedure
• Possible systems of selection and assessment at primary level
• The curriculum
• The most appropriate age for transfer to post primary education
• Social inclusion and parental choice
• The deficiencies of the comprehensive school system

Hansard recorded the evidence for publication in due course.

7. Evidence Session with Comhairle Na Gaelscolaíochta on Post-Primary Education

As part of the Committee's consideration of the Review of Post-Primary Education, the Chairman welcomed Mr MacMuiris, Mr ÓhÍr and Ms Ruane to the meeting. They gave oral evidence on Comhairle Na Gaelscolaíochta's submission to the Committee on post-primary education and this was followed by a detailed question and answer session. Areas discussed included:

• The deficiencies of the current transfer procedure particularly in relation to bi-lingual education
• The need to set objectives for the education system before considering education structures
• The benefits of the comprehensive or 'all-through' system of education
• Social inclusion and the role of parental choice

Hansard recorded the evidence for publication in due course.

8. Evidence Session with the Ulster Teachers' Union on Post-Primary Education

As part of the Committee's consideration of the Review of Post-Primary Education, the Chairman welcomed Mr Calvin, Ms Hall-Callaghan, Ms Barton and Ms Garrett to the meeting. They gave oral evidence on the Ulster Teachers' Union's submission to the Committee on post-primary education and this was followed by a detailed question and answer session. Areas discussed included:

• The deficiencies of the current transfer procedure
• The advantages of implementing a delayed selection system such as the Dickson Plan system throughout Northern Ireland
• Possible systems of assessment and selection and the role of parental choice
• The need to establish parity of esteem between vocational and academic education
• The relative merits of other systems of education including comprehensive education and the German system of education

Hansard recorded the evidence for publication in due course.

9. Discussion of the 'Near Final Text' of the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland

Copies of a 'near final text' of the Regional Development Strategy and information relating to the Committee's previous response had been circulated. Following discussion, the Committee agreed that the Chairman should write to the Regional Development Committee stating that the Committee, having consulted with the Department of Education on those aspects of the Strategy relevant to education services, had no further comments to add to its previous response. The Committee did, however, wish to highlight the penultimate paragraph of the paper attached to its initial response.

10. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Thursday 29 March 2001 at 10.30 a.m.

The meeting closed at 5.10 p.m.

DANNY KENNEDY
Committee Chairman
March 2001