Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was going to say something about accreditation of prior learning, APL, but the educated architect is leaving the Chamber. I will say it anyway.

I congratulate the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, in his place. This legislation will provide for the better co-ordination and delivery of education services by establishing education and training boards. The landscape of the vocational education training sector which dates back to the 1930s has undergone a radical transformation. The Minister is reforming in his ethos, although I might not agree with everything he is doing. The debate on private schools is ongoing, but it is not related to this Bill.

When the history of modern Ireland is written, the most important success story will be that of the vocational education sector which has provided the skill set for industrialisation, manufacturing and construction and moved this country from being a pastoral society to a modern economy. It caters for 32% of second level students.

Education and training are one and the same. We should assist students in developing critical and creative thinking abilities and competencies. The education boards could facilitate and develop APL. There will be an ideal opportunity for this to happen in the form of SOLAS. Section 11 of the Bill provides for the conferral of additional functions on education and training boards, although many professions take the route of academia exclusively. Recently, a professor told me that academics had their own values that might differ from professional values. Values in education are competencies and must be enhanced and protected at all costs. This is what we strive for in education. As has been mentioned, everyone involved in delivering education must be well qualified and provide a quality education. Otherwise, people will walk. However, professional competencies can be gained in ways other than through academia and looking through books. Learning through the multiple intelligence sphere - using every part of one's intelligence - is vital.

I am making a plea for Ballyfermot College of Further Education, a VEC college that will be under SOLAS. To cite the Save Ballyfermot College group, SOLAS is in the business of further education, whereas the college is in the business of further and higher education. The action plan for SOLAS does not even recognise that courses are delivered above level 6 in further education colleges. Ballyfermot College of Further Education runs a number of courses at ordinary and higher degree level. What is the future of these courses? The people of Ballyfermot are concerned. They need information and want to know what is occurring. Everyone in the country knows the role the college has played, the degrees it awards, etc. All it wants to do is to evolve, thrive and become one of the best colleges. Successful companies have grown out of the college, for example, Sullivan Bluth Studios, an animation company. These companies have won Oscars, IFTAs, BAFTAs and many music awards. The college wants an assurance that it will be able to provide degree courses that supersede level 6 under SOLAS. If the Minister of State cannot address this point now, perhaps he might revert to me in writing or ask the Minister to do so.

On the composition of the boards, while it is important students are represented I agree with Senator Hayden that there should also be adult learning representatives on them. How are the community representatives be selected? Have regulations in that regard been drawn up yet?

There is scope for SOLAS and the education and training boards to bring education into the new era, to value education for what it is and to look at how people learn differently. Section 9 provides that the education and training boards can be used as a prescribed register of educational competencies, working with universities, institutes of technology and third level colleges to bring new systems on stream, be they for architects and so on. I hope the Minister will give serious consideration to this.