§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Government intentions with regard to the various recommendations of the advanced further education review group.
§ Mr. ScottI am grateful to the Review Group under the chairmanship of Mr. Tom Cowan for its constructive report and I am glad to be able to accept most of its recommendations. The report was published on 30 November 1983. Consultations have been held with the Western Education and Library Board and the Steering Group planning the merger of the New University of Ulster and the Ulster polytechnic and I am now in a position to respond in detail.
In common with all of those who have commented to me, I welcome the main recommendation of the Review Group that for an initial five year period, the North West College of Technology and the proposed University of Ulster should co-operate in making provision for advanced further education courses for the Londonderry area, and that these arrangements should be reviewed at the end of the five-year period. The report recommended the establishment of a committee by the Western Education and Library Board and the proposed University of Ulster as a means of co-ordinating the provision and sponsorship of courses. I agree with this recommendation and I shall invite the board and the university to take the necessary steps to form this committee. For my part, I shall nominate two members connected with trade and industry in the Londonderry area, one of whom will be the chairman of the committee.
90WI also accept the recommendations which suggested that the educational activities of the Derry Unemployed Workers Group Ltd. might be supported and that the Department of Education for Northern Ireland investigate ways in which unemployed people might, at less personal expense, take part in further education. In regard to the former, a member of the Department's inspectorate has visited the group and an application for grant-aid is now being considered. As to the latter, I am pleased to say that action has already been taken which allows unemployed persons to undertake courses in further education at reduced fees.
I have noted the recommendation which asks that the Department and the Western Education and Library Board give sympathetic consideration to the provision of substantial additional resources for the development of advanced further education in Londonderry. It will not be possible to quantify what additional resources may be required until the advisory committee, the university and the board have considered the level and nature of future co-operation between the college and the university and have made a detailed assessment of the resource implications of existing and planned provision. Furthermore, any request for additional resources will have to be considered in conjunction with the proposals for the development of Magee. I am prepared to consider carefully any request which the Western Board may make to me following these deliberations.
I am unable to accept the recommendation which sought the reinstatement of the pre-entry certificate course for intending teachers of commercial subjects. This course was originally established at the North West college to meet a shortfall in teachers of commercial studies in schools, but as part of the move towards an all-graduate teaching profession, all such certificate courses are being phased out. Furthermore, this shortage in the schools sector no longer exists.
The final recommendation is a matter for the Derry city council.