Education conference debates balance between education and skills

An education conference hosted by the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment has focused debate on the balancing of academic learning in the classroom with skills and experience in the workplace.

The Annual Conference of the Joint Council for General Qualifications - the theme of which was “Education or Skills – Conflict or Complement” - was attended by Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Sean Farren.

Speaking at Friday’s conference, held in the Europa Hotel, Belfast, he said: “Education is about more than simply teaching or training specific skills and knowledge, but also providing people with the skills that employers want.

“Education and skills lie at the very heart of my department’s aim to promote a culture of lifelong learning and to equip people to work in a modern economy. I believe, that not only is there no conflict between education and skills, but there is a social and economic imperative that they complement each other.

“Through the Programme for Government, the Executive has committed itself to providing high quality education to all, with equal access for all. We are also committed to ensuring that all our young people have the skills and qualifications to gain employment in a modern economy; and to enabling people to update their knowledge, skills and qualifications.”

The Minister added: “It is this equal emphasis on education and skills that can help Northern Ireland to become a knowledge based economy.”

The conference was attended by the Chairs and members of the Governing Bodies, Chief Executives and Senior Officers of all Awarding Bodies of England, Wales and Northern Ireland responsible for general and general vocational qualifications.

The Joint Council for General Qualifications is made up of representatives from the five individual awarding bodies that offer A level, GCSE and AVCE (formerly GNVQ), in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (AMcE)