Northern Ireland has hosted the fifth UK Education Ministers'
Council (EMC) meeting.
Education Minister welcomed Education Ministers and
senior officials from across the UK to Laurelhill Community
College, Lisburn for the meeting focussed on Teacher Professional
Learning and teacher recruitment and retention.
The meeting was attended by MP, Secretary of State
for Education, MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Education in Wales and senior officials from the Scottish
government.
Speaking at the meeting Education Minister said: “It is a pleasure to
welcome colleagues from across the United Kingdom to Northern
Ireland for the first time for the UK Education Ministers'
Council meeting.
“Meetings such as this build on existing good relationships
developed over many years between our respective jurisdictions
and provide important opportunities to better understand and
learn from policies and working practices outside our own
country, share best practice and experience, and agree ways of
working together for the teaching profession right across the
United Kingdom for future years.”
The UK Education Ministers' Council was established in January
2022 and has previously met in England, Scotland and Wales.
Education Ministers' Council Meetings take place regularly.
The Minister continued: “During the meeting we heard from the
four Initial Teacher Education institutions in Northern Ireland
including Stranmillis and St. Mary's University Colleges, Queen's
University and Ulster University and learned about the range of
courses available to students. The colleges highlighted the
benefits of technology in teaching, the opportunities for
post-graduate study as well as how teachers are trained to teach
children and young people with special educational needs.”
The Minister concluded: “Each of our jurisdictions has its own
distinct education system. We all share a common goal: to
continuously improve the quality of teaching and learning for the
benefit of our children and young people, our teachers and the
broader education system. We remain committed to that goal.”
The Secretary of State for Education, MP reiterated the UK
Government's commitment to its obligations under the Safeguarding
the Union Command Paper, including school twinning. Minister
Givan welcomed the engagement that has taken place and the work
that is underway in regard to this project.
It was agreed that the Welsh Government would host the next
meeting.
