7. 6. The Education Workforce Council (Accreditation of Initial Teacher Training) (Additional Functions) (Wales) Order 2017

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:08 pm on 14 February 2017.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 5:08, 14 February 2017

Can I put on record that we will also be supporting these regulations, notwithstanding the reservations of the legislative affairs committee in terms of the further regulations that are yet to be published for scrutiny? One thing, however, that I am a little concerned about is that, obviously, within the remit of the EWC are also responsibilities for FE lecturers, for example. I just wonder why regulations around PGCEs and initial training for further education lecturers aren’t being laid today. In addition to that, Cabinet Secretary, this Education Workforce Council also now has responsibility for youth workers and a whole host of other professionals. I think it is very important that the responsibilities of the Education Workforce Council are expanded to allow them to actually set the professional standards, in the same way that similar organisations are able to elsewhere around the UK and, indeed, around the world. Why is it that the Welsh Government feels that it is the responsible organisation to set those professional standards, rather than the body that people will have to register with? I wonder whether you could tell us where you are up to in terms of setting new professional standards for the teaching workforce, for FE lecturers and for youth workers, now that that is also within their remit. Everybody is looking to you, as a Welsh Government, to ensure that these things move at pace. I have to say, I think that had these responsibilities been with the Education Workforce Council, they would have been published a long time ago.

I noted with interest your announcement during your opening remarks about the OECD and the work that they're going to be doing to try to enhance initial teacher training here in Wales. I'm very pleased to hear that they are involved and, hopefully, it will add some value to what’s already taking place. Can you tell us when you expect to receive some sort of outcome from the workshop? I think it was just a workshop that you announced. Is there going to be anything else on top of that? Is this going to be some continuous work with the OECD, or is it just that simple workshop from which you are hoping to glean something? Thank you.