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Addressing essential skills issues through collaboration

26 November 2008

Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey today welcomed close collaboration with the Republic of Ireland on common essential skills issues.

The Minister was speaking as he opened a major cross border conference, entitled ‘Making it Work – Integrating Essential Skills and Literacy into training and further education’, with his southern counterpart, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Sean Haughey TD.  The conference was the first collaborative event organised by the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) in Northern Ireland and the Irish National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA).

In his opening address, the Minister said: “I am pleased that the two Agencies have come together to highlight the importance of tackling the significant literacy, numeracy and ICT issues we face and to provide new inspiration and insight to the problem.”

Stressing the importance of upskilling those people already in the workforce, Sir Reg continued: “70% of the 2020 workforce have already completed their compulsory education.  Within the UK, Northern Ireland is the worst placed region for low skills and this is a cause for concern. However, this also means we have the most to gain from upskilling.  The drive to improve literacy, numeracy and ICT is a key part of our broader skills mission.  My department has recognised this through the provision of free essential skills courses.

“In the current economic climate, companies might be tempted to cut spending on training in an effort to reduce costs.  However, we must continue to invest in the skills of those people already in the workforce so that we are in a stronger position when the economy recovers.”

Trevor Carson, Director of LSDA NI, said: “This is the first time that LSDA NI will be holding a cross-border literacy event and we are delighted to be working jointly with NALA on the conference.  In Northern Ireland 24% of the population have difficulties with literacy and/or numeracy, while in the Republic of Ireland 25% of adults still lack very basic skills in literacy and numeracy.

“There are great benefits to be had in both economies, North and South, from a coordinated approach towards literacy.  We are keen to highlight these to employers, representatives of the further education and training sector and other stakeholders in education.  I believe that we can learn a lot from examples of best practice in the Republic of Ireland while at the same time there are many areas where representatives from the South can learn from policies and approaches adopted in Northern Ireland.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Cross-Border Essential Skills Conference was held at Ballymascanlon House, Dundalk on Wednesday 26 November 2008.
  2. In September 2008, LSDA NI signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate with NALA.  The objective is to enhance opportunities for people with literacy needs across the island of Ireland.  The memorandum outlines an agreement between the two agencies to cooperate, share experience and organise joint conferences, of which the 2008 conference is the first.
  3. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.  Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.