Minister launches second quarterly progress report on the Action Plan for Education 2019

The Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD, today (Friday 2 August) announced the publication of the Action Plan for Education 2019 Quarter 2 Progress Report.

The Action Plan – Cumasú emphasises empowering through learning. It highlights the significant strategic reform programme under way in the education and training sector. This enables the department to respond in an agile way to the demands of today’s society at the same time as maintaining a focus on sustainable, carefully paced reform, in order to empower learners.

Progress during the year is monitored through published quarterly reports, ensuring transparency. Today’s publication is the second such report for 2019, following the publication in April of the first progress report. The quarter 2 report shows the progress made on the 51 actions due for delivery over the last few months. It provides details on achievements and an update on actions where significant progress has been made, but where it has been necessary to adjust the target date. Overall, it shows that progress is being made towards achieving the department’s high level goals, which together will help to empower through learning.

Commenting on today’s publication, Minister McHugh said:

“I’m pleased to see the progress we’re making across the sector in achieving our strategic goals."

"By working towards what we set out in the Action Plan for Education 2019 we are continuing to respond to the needs of learners and providers, raise aspirations, building on existing links and relationships and put the right systems in place to really empower through education and training."

"This will benefit not only individuals but our wider society and so I think it’s important to mark the progress we’re making in this regard.”

A total of 38 actions have been achieved (a completion rate of 75%), including:

complete an audit of Traveller history and culture in the curriculum
develop a work plan as part of a coordinated response to increase the numbers of females participating in STEM, including the establishment of a Females in STEM Subgroup
complete a scoping paper on implementation of Content Language Integrated Learning in both Irish and foreign languages and establish a working group to plan the development of pilot projects
launch School Excellence Fund Tranche 3 for DEIS schools
inform schools, through the NCSE, of their SNA allocation before the end of the school year
review the model for allocating special education teachers to schools by ensuring that data are available and there is engagement with the sector so that school profiles can be updated to enable new allocations to be made for the 2019/20 school year
commence an evaluation of certain initiatives funded under the PATH programme
begin a review of the 2018 Pilot Support Scheme for those in the Protection System
hold a National Forum to engage with stakeholders on issues of teacher supply and demand
begin a review of the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme, following a tender process
publish the Review of the Youthreach programme
assist technological university (TU) development by establishing a TU Research Network
design a structured process to secure employer input on key expenditure decisions related to the National Training Fund
implementation of fund for Teaching and Learning Capacity Building in Higher education institutions
implementation of a new research and innovation fund for institutes of technology and technological universities
commence operation of the Payroll Shared Service for education and training boards

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

Action Plan for Education 2019: Cumasú – Empowering through Learning is available here: Action Plan for Education 2019.

A link to the progress report is here: Action Plan for Education 2019 - Quarter 2 Progress Report.

The Action Plan for Education 2019 outlines those actions which the department will deliver this year in order to make progress towards the goals for the sector set out in the Statement of Strategy:

1. We will shape a responsive education and training system that meets the needs and raises the aspirations of all learners

2. We will advance the progress of learners at risk of educational disadvantage and learners with special educational needs in order to support them to achieve their potential

3. We will equip education and training providers with the skills and support to provide a quality learning experience

4. We will intensify the relationships between education and the wider community, society and the economy

5. We will lead in the delivery of strategic direction and supportive systems in partnership with key stakeholders in education and training

The Action Plan recognises a combination of reform activity and critical business functions, and details over 220 actions to be achieved before the end of the year.