2 February 2011
Colleges Welcome Ministerial Commitments
ColegauCymru / CollegesWales welcomed the Education Minister’s “Teaching Makes a Difference” speech today on the future of education in Wales.
Over the last year, colleges have been raising concerns that a larger-than-expected proportion of learners arrive at college with basic skills deficits. Colleges were pleased to hear in today’s speech that the Education Minister intends to focus strongly on basic skills, especially literacy and numeracy.
In addition, colleges welcomed the Minister’s unequivocal commitment to providing more vocational opportunities to learners aged 14 and 16, and that the expanded curriculum should be achieved through partnership rather than competition.
Chief Executive of ColegauCymru, Dr John Graystone, said: “We are pleased that the Education Minister reinforced his commitment to widening vocational opportunities to learners aged 14 and 16 through education providers working in effective partnerships.”
Dr John Graystone concluded: “Colleges are keen to work with government, local authorities and schools in taking forward this important agenda. We all share a belief in the need to achieve and continually maintain high standards and we are all committed to driving Wales forward as a ‘learning country’.”
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Contact: Sylvia Davies on 029 2052 8384 or 07968 771913.
Notes to editors:
- ColegauCymru / CollegesWales is a national educational charity that represents all 21 further education (FE) colleges and institutions in Wales. Its mission is to raise the profile of further education with key decision-makers to improve opportunities for learners in Wales. For further information about ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, and the colleges it represents, visit www.colegaucymru.ac.uk or www.collegeswales.ac.uk
- Leighton Andrews AM, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, delivered a speech entitled “Teaching Makes a Difference” on 2 February 2011 at the Reardon Smith Theatre, Cardiff. A copy of the speech is available from http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/educationandskills/2011/110202education/?version=1&lang=en