Debate contribution: Supporting Learning Pathways for our Young People

Debate contribution by Ms Kate Nicholl on 4 February 2025.

MLA

Ms Kate Nicholl

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

4 February 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Supporting Learning Pathways for our Young People

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4779573

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you to those who tabled the motion. If we are serious about supporting the learning pathways of our children and young people, we have to be clear that there are so many options open to them for their future. The motion is a positive one, but, as our amendment sets out, we think that it would be more comprehensive with a reference to the Department for the Economy. While I was listening to the debate, it struck me that it is odd to be talking about supporting learning pathways for our children while not mentioning academic selection and how the very foundation on which this is built is so unfair.

Our children and young people are not all the same. They are diverse in their talents, skills and aspirations for the future, which is to be championed and celebrated. However, that diversity of aspiration is sometimes overlooked when it comes to the advice that they are given about their future. Academic and vocational pathways are absolutely, categorically of equal importance and must be respected, valued and treated with the parity of esteem that they deserve. That has been reaffirmed in review after review, including in the findings of the landmark independent review of education that were published in December 2023. It is not always the case, however, when it comes to the advice that our young people are given in schools. In November, the Economy Committee heard evidence from Work+, from teachers and from an apprentice. Patrick English, who is head of careers at Wellington College, was really inspiring and is doing great work in that school to teach young people about their options. Reform and standardisation, so that every child has access to that sort of advice, are central if we are to create the cultural shift that is required to put academic and vocational pathways on an equal footing. The independent review of education says:

"providing access to vocational training, apprenticeships, and work-based learning will help them expand their skills and knowledge, making them more attractive to future employers."

The Department for the Economy absolutely has a role to play in developing learning pathways to support our young people in finding the right career for them and in addressing the significant skills gaps in our economy. The 2022 employer skills survey found that there were about 39,500 job vacancies in our economy and that 35% of them were attributable to the lack of skills, experience or qualifications amongst applicants. Alternative pathways to the academic route are important levers to address those skills shortages, and the Department for the Economy and our further education system must be front and centre in those conversations. The Audit Office has been clear that limited progress has been made in the implementation of a more strategic approach to education and training through the 14-19 framework. We need to hear from the Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Education what plans they have to address the deficiencies, which include a lack of objectives and limited movement from strategy to implementation. It is appropriate that the debate is happening during Apprenticeship Week. We would like to have seen apprenticeships mentioned in the motion. Apprenticeships offer a mixed approach and can open up a world of opportunity for so many children and young people, allowing them to gain educational opportunities and qualifications at the same as they build real-world experience in paid employment. That Economy Committee meeting clearly had a huge impact on me, because, at that session, we heard evidence from a young man called Oscar Daly, who is a higher level software engineering apprentice. He said that he was doing his dream job debt-free and gaining invaluable experience. We need to talk about and promote that more. We know that the previous Economy Minister was engaged in positive work on recruiting more young people into apprenticeships, but more needs to be done to ensure that small businesses and microbusinesses in our economy have the confidence and capacity to take them on. It has to be about supply and demand, ensuring that the opportunities are in the system for our young people to take advantage of. When it comes to supporting learning pathways, every possible future option should be clearly communicated, openly explored and equally valued in discussion with our young people at home and in schools.

725 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:52 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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