Assembly Written Question 13277/17-22

Question: To ask the Minister for the Economy, following her announcement that essential skills and vocational examinations, including BTecs, are to be cancelled for this year, when she expects detail on specific alternative arrangements to be provided to students.

Answer: I am acutely aware that timeliness is a critical consideration for learners and learning centres. For those vocational qualifications that are awarded across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, I have instructed CCEA Regulation to work with the other regulators to ensure that clarity on the alternative arrangements is provided by awarding organisations to learning centres as early as possible in March 2021. In relation to Essential Skills and other Northern Ireland only qualifications, I have instructed CCEA Regulation to ensure that the alternative arrangements are available by the end of February 2021.