Dickson Seeks Accountable Timeline to Resolve Duplication Between FE Colleges and Six-Form Secondary

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has welcomed an assurance from the Minister for the Economy that duplication of courses between further education colleges and sixth-forms in secondary schools, are being reviewed. However, Mr Dickson has highlighted the urgency required for this redress and has called on the Minister to release an accountable timeline for resolution.

Mr Dickson said, “At present, there is considerable duplication of provision and competition between schools and FE colleges for post-16 learners. This issue needs to be urgently addressed and that is why the Minister for the Economy should commit his department to a timeline for delivery that I can keep him accountable to.”

The Minister has acknowledged that a base line document in the Transition of Young People into Careers (14-19) Project, highlighted the issue of duplication as key to both his own department and the Department for Education.

Whilst not yet committing to a timeline for delivery, the Minister has said that his department is working closely with the Department for Education to agree a joined up, cross-departmental approach to resolving the issues.

Mr Dickson concluded by saying that: “All learners deserve access to the training and education pathways which best meet their needs – these pathways should run alongside one another but should not be allowed to detrimentally conflict with one another.

“I hope that the Minister can see that, and will demonstrate his understanding of the issues by committing to an accountable, delivery timeline for resolution.”