Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the private education colleges, universities and institutes operating here; if they are under the control of his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department; if they are licensed and approved; if diploma and degrees are certified and by whom; the agency or section of his Department which operates as the channel for dealing with such colleges here and universities, colleges and students abroad in setting up or coming here; if a licensing system exists or if it will be introduced; if the roles of the national curriculum of Ireland and City and Guilds will be outlined; if colleges operating here have or can seek a quality assurance certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45061/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not regulate the provision of private colleges. In the context of a lifelong approach to learning, it would not be feasible to confine all provision of education and training to providers which are nationally accredited. However, systems are in place to enable private colleges to access external quality assurance and to offer programmes leading to nationally recognised awards.

The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), was developed and is maintained by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), a body under the aegis of my Department. The NFQ is a system of ten levels that incorporates awards from basic literary awards up to doctoral degrees. The NFQ enables providers in public, private, workplace or community settings to offer recognised awards in further or higher education. Quality assurance is central to the NFQ and all awards which are recognised through the NFQ are quality assured.

Private colleges who comply with the relevant processes and standards can offer courses leading to framework awards of the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) or the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC), bodies established under statute. They must agree their quality assurance arrangements with the relevant awards council, and satisfy the council that the programmes leading to the awards are of an appropriate standard, the necessary supports are in place for learners and the assessment arrangements are fair and consistent. There are also procedures under which international or professional bodies may seek to have their programmes aligned with or included in the NFQ, if they wish to do so. A substantial range of such awards, including City and Guilds awards, have been aligned with the NFQ and many private colleges offer programmes leading to such awards. My Department is also bound by the Lisbon Convention and the EU Directive on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications to give appropriate recognition to nationally accredited awards from other jurisdictions.

It should be noted that under Sections 15 and 25 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, State-funded providers of education and training are required to have their programmes, other than recreational or leisure programmes, validated by FETAC or HETAC. This does not prevent them from offering the awards of other bodies such as City and Guilds in addition, should they wish to do so. Awards bodies such as City and Guilds may also offer their awards in the private sector, in line with EU obligations relating to the provision of services.

In addition to this, the Department's Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Policy Unit maintains an Internationalisation Register containing programmes which are approved for the purpose of access to work by students who are citizens from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Only programmes which have been quality assured and/or lead to recognised qualifications are included on the Register. Both the Internationalisation Register and a list of recognised higher education providers are maintained on the Department's website. I will also be providing for the introduction of a Code of Practice for colleges providing education and training to international students and an associated Quality Mark for those who can demonstrate compliance. This will be provided for in legislation being prepared to amalgamate NQAI, HETAC and FETAC and the amalgamated agency will be responsible for adopting the Code of Practice and monitoring compliance.

Private schools may also offer the national curriculum if they wish to do so and may seek recognition as examination centres from the State Examinations Commission, or may enter students for certificate examinations as external candidates. My Department does not quality assure or regulate schools which are not State funded. However, under the Educational Welfare Act, there are procedures in place for the purpose of ensuring that students receive a certain minimum education in places other than recognised schools and centres of education.