AQW 8483/17-22
Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim
Tabled Date: 09/10/2020
Answered On Date: 12/11/2020
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy what action she is taking to co-ordinate with other Executive Ministers to support students and staff at universities and colleges in Northern Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer:
Universities While my Department is responsible for higher education policy in relation to teaching and research, as autonomous institutions, the universities are ultimately responsible for their own policies in relation to responding to the Covid-19 pandemic in line with Public Health Agency (PHA) advice – this includes ensuring there are robust protocols in place to minimise the spread of Covid-19. My Department has no formal remit to intervene, although we have shared a range of relevant supporting guidance with the universities. That said, I and my officials are in very regular contact with our universities and university colleges, and I have sought assurances from them on provision for a safe opening, for both students and staff. My officials, along with the universities, have also been participating in the Executive Office’s Covid-19 Strategic Enforcement Group. For the past couple of weeks, this group has had higher education as a key agenda point, in order to discuss actions to help minimise the spread of Covid-19, and discuss support for students who are self-isolating. All HEIs have confirmed that the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff and students is their first priority. Plans for a safe return to campus were developed in accordance with the NI Executive’s Pathway to Recovery plan, and are in adherence to all guidelines issued by the Public Health Agency. From a financial perspective, my Department has put in place measures to assist students who experience financial hardship due to Covid-19. This financial year, I have secured an additional £1.4m from the Executive and a further £1.4m from my own Department’s budget, making available a total of £5.6m to support students facing genuine financial hardship. Any increase in funding for the financial year 2021/22 is subject to additional budget being available and also the ongoing demand for the funds. Further Education Colleges My Department and I recognise that since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the needs of staff and learners at Further Education (FE) colleges have changed, as has the nature and delivery of the support they require. Supporting them at this time is a key priority for both the Department and the FE colleges themselves. In June my Department established an Advisory and Oversight Group (AOG) to work collaboratively with the FE Sector to prepare for the safe resumption of on-site educational delivery. The AOG developed the ‘Framework for Recommencing On-site Educational Provision and Related Activities in FE Colleges and Non-Statutory Contractors (NSCs)’ which was provided to FE colleges and published online. This document provides clear guidance about how FE colleges should support their staff and learners, for example, through the provision of an extended induction process to ensure that both staff and learners are aware of and understand the college’s policies, procedures and controls; the provision of support services and pastoral support; and guidance for those who are delivering and engaging in industry related courses at the colleges. In developing this Framework Document, my Department liaised with other Executive Departments as required. Recognising the need for appropriate medical and scientific advice in guiding the safe resumption of onsite education, my officials engaged with DoH and the Chief Medical Officer, resulting in a number of discussions with the PHA to obtain specific advice for the FE Sector and the challenges it faces. Further, over the summer months, officials liaised with the Department of Education on their approach to Education Restart in schools on a weekly basis; as well as reviewing and considering guidance issued to schools when developing similar guidance for the FE Sector. My Department will continue to engage with other Executive Departments as necessary to ensure that issues relating to the resumption of onsite educational delivery and related activity are resolved, and the support required by staff and learners is provided as efficiently and effectively as possible. From a financial perspective, my Department secured £1.078 million of additional resource funding from the Department of Finance for the FE colleges, allocated as part of June monitoring. This was used to provide laptops, equipment and software for financially vulnerable learners and staff to assist with digital and remote study and working during the initial lockdown. More recently, I secured £6.5 million to support the safe resumption of learning in the colleges. This will provide additional IT, cover additional staff costs and embed appropriate measures to provide for safe resumption of delivery at FE campuses across Northern Ireland. An additional £0.43 million has also been allocated to meet the cost to date of funding direct payment of Free School Meal Allowances into the households of almost 1,900 eligible school-age FE students. During the pandemic, my Department ensured that FE student support arrangements continued to operate effectively or were adapted to direct flexible support to students in need. This included paying childcare retainer fees during the initial lockdown, acceptance of electronic applications and evidence, paying Free School Meal allowances into households and ensuring there was effective public transport arrangements for Term 1.
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