Ms Catherine Kelly:

From our point of view and from people's lived experience, we are hearing that early career guidance is important. People's transitions throughout their educations are important and lifelong learning is a part of that. It is about creating a culture of zero tolerance of exclusion within schools and colleges. We must make sure that if students who are capable of achieving a QQI level 3, 4 or 5 are leaving, we assess why they continue to leave schools without that achievement and ask why the appropriate accommodations are not put in place for people. If pilot projects prove to be successful, we must examine why they do not become mainstreamed in educational systems. I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak today. I appreciate it.