AQW 8950/08

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 04/07/2008
Answered On Date: 11/07/2008
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning to outline the plan for delivery of Essential Skills, with particular regard to foundation level and level one, in the context of a more difficult funding climate for community-based training organisations.

Answer:

My Department has set a challenging PSA target in respect of Essential Skills. This target is that, by March 2011, 42,000 adult learners will have achieved a recognised qualification in Essential Skills, including 4,000 in respect of ICT.

In future, Further Education Colleges will be the main providers of Essential skills for adults, and in 2008/09 college budgets in respect of Essential Skills have been increased to £6.6m, from £5m in 2007/08. Colleges' extensive network of outreach centres will ensure that Essential Skills provision is fully accessible to all. The Learner Access and Engagement pilot programme will help colleges to increase uptake on their Essential Skills provision, particularly at Entry Level and Level 1.

In addition, Training Organisations, including FE colleges, will continue to provide Essential Skills, where appropriate, as part of their delivery of DEL programmes such as Training for Success, Jobskills and New Deal.