21 September 2001

EDUCATION OR SKILLS CONFLICT OR COMPLEMENT : FARREN ADDRESSES JOINT COUNCIL

"Education is about more than simply teaching or training specific skills and knowledge, but also providing people with the skills that employers want," the Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Sean Farren said today.

The Minister was addressing the Annual Conference of the Joint Council for General Qualifications whose theme was "Education or Skills - Conflict or Complement?"

Minister Farren continued by saying: "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.

"It is this equal emphasis on education and skills that can help Northern Ireland to become a knowledge based economy."

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

Minister Farren attended the annual conference of the Joint Council for General Qualifications on Friday 21st September 2001 at the Europa Hotel, Belfast. The Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) hosted the Annual Conference.

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.