Education JC 14 November 2007
NORTH/SOUTH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
Education Sectoral Format
Dublin, 14 November 2007
JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
1. The first NSMC meeting in Education Sectoral format since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly was held in Dublin on Wednesday 14 November 2007.
2. The Northern Ireland delegation comprised Caitríona Ruane, MLA, Minister of Education and Edwin Poots, MLA, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure. The Irish Government was represented by Mary Hanafin, TD, Minister for Education and Science. Minister Hanafin chaired the meeting.
Education Underachievement
3. Council welcomed progress on addressing educational underachievement including successful initiatives for the promotion of literacy and numeracy in schools and requested officials to develop proposals on educational underachievement and bring them forward for consideration at the next NSMC meeting in Education Sectoral format.
School, Youth and Teacher Exchanges
4. Council welcomed the ongoing co operation between the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Education in the area of cross-border school youth and teacher exchanges. It noted that a formal review of co-operation on educational exchanges and supporting mechanisms, including the North South Exchange Consortium, will shortly commence with a view to identifying a range of options for future progress in the light of current and future funding availability.
5. Council noted developments in both jurisdictions in relation to the vetting of those working with children and vulnerable adults. Ministers noted that arising from the Assembly debate in October 2007, the issue of child protection could emerge as a significant matter for consideration by the NSMC and British Irish Council (BIC) and that the Education Departments will consider issues that may arise, as appropriate and consistent with the Departmental responsibilities in this area.
Special Education Needs
6. Ministers welcomed a report from the Chief Executive and Chair of the Centre of Excellence for Autism at Middletown. The report outlined the significant progress made to date on the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Autism at Middletown and plans to carry out a consultation exercise with all relevant stakeholders involved to inform how the services will be delivered. Ministers endorsed the future plans for the Centre which include the provision of training/advisory and information/research services and education, learning and support services which are due to come on stream once building work is completed.
7. Council discussed proposals for a joint Autistic Spectrum Disorder conference in 2008. Council also welcomed the distribution of parent and teacher videos/CD-ROMs and guidance material on Autism and Dyslexia.
8. Council discussed other joint projects in the field of special educational needs including the ”Cross Border School and Parent Community Partnership Programme” which was supported by the EU Peace and Reconciliation Programme and co-funded by both Departments of Education. This project, which will run from September 2006 to August 2008, will create a cross-border schools/parents/community partnership approach to the education and socialisation of children with special educational needs.
Teacher Qualifications and Teachers’ Superannuation
9. Council noted progress made to date by the Teacher Qualifications Working Group and that the Teaching Councils will work co-operatively on the issues in the future as appropriate.
10. Council recognised that significant changes have been made to the previous requirements for proficiency in the Irish language in respect of teaching posts and that a specific professional development programme (funded by the Department of Education and Science and developed in Marino College of Education, Dublin) has been introduced to address the needs of primary teachers undertaking the Scrúdú le haghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge (SCG) - Irish proficiency examination.
11. Council welcomed ongoing communication and co operation between the Inspectorates of both Departments of Education in relation to the sharing of best practice and research. Council also acknowledged the contribution made by The Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South (SCoTENS) which provides support for all-island conferences on social, scientific and environmental education, initial teacher education, citizenship education and special educational needs and for cross-border research projects.
12. Under the auspices of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the two Education Departments jointly hosted a conference of participating countries in Dublin on 7th and 8th of November 2007. As a result of the Conference, a joint research initiative will be developed, aimed at attracting and developing school leaders. The issue of joint professional development programmes for agreed groups will also be explored
13. Council discussed the issues relating to Teachers’ Superannuation, in particular the question of transferring superannuation entitlements between both jurisdictions. It noted the decision made by the NSMC at its meeting in Institutional format in October 2007 - that the NSMC Joint Secretariat will convene a working group of officials from relevant Departments, including Finance Departments, to consider the transfer of pensions rights on a cross-border basis and report back to a future NSMC meeting.
14. Council agreed that officials from the Department of Education and the Department of Education and Science will participate in this working group and will report back on issues relevant to the Education Sector to the next NSMC meeting in Education Sectoral Format.
Education Sectoral Format
Dublin, 14 November 2007
JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
1. The first NSMC meeting in Education Sectoral format since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly was held in Dublin on Wednesday 14 November 2007.
2. The Northern Ireland delegation comprised Caitríona Ruane, MLA, Minister of Education and Edwin Poots, MLA, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure. The Irish Government was represented by Mary Hanafin, TD, Minister for Education and Science. Minister Hanafin chaired the meeting.
Education Underachievement
3. Council welcomed progress on addressing educational underachievement including successful initiatives for the promotion of literacy and numeracy in schools and requested officials to develop proposals on educational underachievement and bring them forward for consideration at the next NSMC meeting in Education Sectoral format.
School, Youth and Teacher Exchanges
4. Council welcomed the ongoing co operation between the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Education in the area of cross-border school youth and teacher exchanges. It noted that a formal review of co-operation on educational exchanges and supporting mechanisms, including the North South Exchange Consortium, will shortly commence with a view to identifying a range of options for future progress in the light of current and future funding availability.
5. Council noted developments in both jurisdictions in relation to the vetting of those working with children and vulnerable adults. Ministers noted that arising from the Assembly debate in October 2007, the issue of child protection could emerge as a significant matter for consideration by the NSMC and British Irish Council (BIC) and that the Education Departments will consider issues that may arise, as appropriate and consistent with the Departmental responsibilities in this area.
Special Education Needs
6. Ministers welcomed a report from the Chief Executive and Chair of the Centre of Excellence for Autism at Middletown. The report outlined the significant progress made to date on the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Autism at Middletown and plans to carry out a consultation exercise with all relevant stakeholders involved to inform how the services will be delivered. Ministers endorsed the future plans for the Centre which include the provision of training/advisory and information/research services and education, learning and support services which are due to come on stream once building work is completed.
7. Council discussed proposals for a joint Autistic Spectrum Disorder conference in 2008. Council also welcomed the distribution of parent and teacher videos/CD-ROMs and guidance material on Autism and Dyslexia.
8. Council discussed other joint projects in the field of special educational needs including the ”Cross Border School and Parent Community Partnership Programme” which was supported by the EU Peace and Reconciliation Programme and co-funded by both Departments of Education. This project, which will run from September 2006 to August 2008, will create a cross-border schools/parents/community partnership approach to the education and socialisation of children with special educational needs.
Teacher Qualifications and Teachers’ Superannuation
9. Council noted progress made to date by the Teacher Qualifications Working Group and that the Teaching Councils will work co-operatively on the issues in the future as appropriate.
10. Council recognised that significant changes have been made to the previous requirements for proficiency in the Irish language in respect of teaching posts and that a specific professional development programme (funded by the Department of Education and Science and developed in Marino College of Education, Dublin) has been introduced to address the needs of primary teachers undertaking the Scrúdú le haghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge (SCG) - Irish proficiency examination.
11. Council welcomed ongoing communication and co operation between the Inspectorates of both Departments of Education in relation to the sharing of best practice and research. Council also acknowledged the contribution made by The Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South (SCoTENS) which provides support for all-island conferences on social, scientific and environmental education, initial teacher education, citizenship education and special educational needs and for cross-border research projects.
12. Under the auspices of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the two Education Departments jointly hosted a conference of participating countries in Dublin on 7th and 8th of November 2007. As a result of the Conference, a joint research initiative will be developed, aimed at attracting and developing school leaders. The issue of joint professional development programmes for agreed groups will also be explored
13. Council discussed the issues relating to Teachers’ Superannuation, in particular the question of transferring superannuation entitlements between both jurisdictions. It noted the decision made by the NSMC at its meeting in Institutional format in October 2007 - that the NSMC Joint Secretariat will convene a working group of officials from relevant Departments, including Finance Departments, to consider the transfer of pensions rights on a cross-border basis and report back to a future NSMC meeting.
14. Council agreed that officials from the Department of Education and the Department of Education and Science will participate in this working group and will report back on issues relevant to the Education Sector to the next NSMC meeting in Education Sectoral Format.
Next Meeting
15. The Council agreed to meet again in Education Sectoral format in Spring 2008.
Joint Secretariat
November 2007
15. The Council agreed to meet again in Education Sectoral format in Spring 2008.
Joint Secretariat
November 2007