To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail (i) the social distancing guidelines in further education colleges across Northern Ireland; and (ii) any concerns regarding capacity at colleges due to social distancing and other measures.

The social distancing guidelines in place for the Further Education (FE) colleges are based on clear and unequivocal advice from the Public Health Agency (PHA). That advice is that two metres is the optimum distance required in FE colleges to protect staff, learners and public health. PHA also advised that for the purposes of occupational training, FE colleges should follow relevant government issued industry and workplace guidance for those specific situations and that standards for training in these situations should be at the same rigorous level as the standards maintained in the professional setting.

Adherence to these social distancing requirements does reduce capacity in some FE college classes. Where this is the case, the colleges have agreed to use a blended learning model. Colleges have extensive expertise in delivering quality blended learning solutions and are well placed to provide quality online delivery and relevant support through their virtual learning environments. Colleges are also committed to making every effort to assist learners and staff to settle into the new way of working including through the use of comprehensive induction programmes to prepare students and staff for new delivery models.

I am aware of challenges which some schools have reported regarding the capacity of school partnership programmes operating in FE colleges under the FE college social distancing requirements. My officials have already met with representatives from the FE Sector, and officials in the Department of Education, and we are in the process of identifying all of the issues involved in order to seek a resolution to them as quickly as possible.