Debate contribution: Supporting Learning Pathways for our Young People

Debate contribution by Mr Phillip Brett on 4 February 2025.

MLA

Mr Phillip Brett

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist 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 4779611

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the signatories to the motion and all Members who have spoken in the debate. It has been a useful discussion, particularly with Apprenticeship Week, which was ably namechecked by Ms Nicholl this morning during Members' statements, beginning yesterday. It is an important opportunity for us to highlight all the career and educational pathways that exist for our young people. As Members have, rightly, articulated, the economy and education sectors of our world are vastly different and continue to change very quickly. It is vital that government policy keeps up so that we can upskill our young people for the future. Of course, our universities will continue to play a vital role in the economic and educational life of Northern Ireland. We are blessed to have three of the best providers of higher education here in Northern Ireland. However, university education is no guarantee of a successful career. I think that I may be the perfect example of that: I went to university, but many people will say that my career choice was not the most successful. It is important to recognise that choice for our young people is vital. We need to listen to what young people want to do, and think about how we can help them to ensure that they make the best decisions in life. It is not our role as policymakers to shut down or limit the opportunities that are open to our young people; in fact, we should give them the skills and ability to make the best choices. As I said, there has been useful discussion across the House. I struggle with the justification from the party opposite as to why it does not want to include the Department for the Economy in the discussion. We are talking about reviewing the funding model for post-16 or sixth-form colleges, but what do we mean when we talk about reviewing the funding levels? Are we increasing them? If so, will the Finance Minister award the bids that the Education Minister continually makes for a whole range of sectors in his Department? Are we going to decrease funding levels? If so, why are we decreasing them, and what are we awarding that funding to? If we want to see fewer sixth forms across our schools, does that mean that we need an increase in the funding for our FE colleges? If so, how can we do that without having a discussion with the Department for the Economy? The Alliance Party's amendment is an important addition. It recognises the important role of the Department for the Economy. As the true progressive party in the Chamber, we will not push our very good amendment to a Division, and we will support the Alliance amendment. That shows that the progressives are really on these Benches.

I will turn to a few comments that Members made. First, I highlight Michelle Guy's contribution. Michelle represents Lagan Valley, not Strangford. I wrongly besmirched her when I said that last week. She rightly highlighted the vital work that is being done, particularly by Alma White and Caleb's Cause. It is vital that we recognise that in the Chamber. I disagree with Ms Nicholl's point about her party's aversion to academic selection. I did not want to bring that into the debate, but I proudly stand with grammar schools in North Belfast and with parental choice in Northern Ireland. My party will continue to support young people's right to have that choice. Indeed, my politics teacher at school was an Alliance Party member who was active in East Belfast. When Ms Nicholl's party decided to be against academic selection, that teacher resigned from the party. Maybe that is why I ended up in the DUP.

The Minister made some important remarks. They showed his commitment to young people across Northern Ireland. As has rightly been highlighted, he is not in charge of FE colleges. From my perspective, I wish that the Minister of Education were in charge of FE colleges. I wish that Members who want to see additional funding in the Department of Education, as suggested in the motions that they continually table, would speak to their Executive colleagues to ensure that my Minister's bids are met, because no Minister makes better use of public funds than the Minister of Education.

We will support the Alliance amendment, showing the true progressive nature of my party.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:53 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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