Education system in Northern Ireland must be transformed
For the Northern Ireland economy to succeed, the right connections between education and work skills needed must be made.
This was the main theme in a speech by Employment and Learning Minister Angela Smith during a conference held today in the historic setting of the Portora Royal School in Enniskillen.
Highlighting the changes to the business world since the onset of technology, Angela Smith said: “This is a time of significant change in our economy and in society throughout the world. Technological developments and the IT revolution has transformed the way we live and the way we will work.
“Investment in IT infrastructure in Northern Ireland, for schools, colleges, universities and business means that we have an impressive broadband network which allows us to do business without borders.”
Mapping the roots of our modern day education system, designed in the 1940’s, the Minister said: “The system started then is clearly struggling to cope with today’s needs and circumstances and it is a system that we must build on but transform. That transformation must give everyone the personal development and all the skills that you choose and need for the future.
“It is for that reason that we are seeing a radical change in the curriculum, sweeping away a great deal of central prescription, but with the aim of giving the individual the maximum choice of subject.”
The Minister went on to detail recent initiatives particularly the Vocational Enhancement Programme aimed at 14 -19 year olds. The programme seeks to broaden the curriculum by schools and further education colleges working together to find the right mix of academic and vocational teaching and training for individual pupils.
During her speech, the Minister also confirmed that following a wide consultation exercise on the issue of calls to increase participation in Higher Education she would be publishing a document setting out the evidence gathered for further debate.
Exhorting Portora’s sixth form pupils to seize new opportunities in the changing world of work, Angela Smith concluded: “You must be able to present yourself, to argue your case, to work in teams, to be entrepreneurial. Innovation and enterprise, whether you are working in the private or public sector, will be the hallmarks of your day.”
Earlier, the Minister was welcomed to Portora by the Principal, Mr Neill Morton and Peter Little, Chair of the Board of Governors.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
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