To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps that will be taken to enhance the status and perception of vocational education and apprenticeships, ensuring they are recognised as equal in value to academic routes.

My priority is to ensure that learners in schools have access to high quality qualifications that meet the needs and interests of the pupils and that will facilitate progression along their chosen pathway.

While policy responsibility for vocational education and apprenticeships rests with Department for the Economy, the Entitlement Framework policy ensures that all learners have access to a broad range of qualifications, both general (academic) and applied (professional/ technical or vocational). Legislation requires that schools offer access to 21 courses at both Key Stage 4 and Post 16, with at least one third of the offer being general and one third applied.

Careers education, information and guidance provided by teachers and careers advisors ensures that learners have access to advice to help them make informed decisions about the most appropriate qualifications and courses to facilitate progress along their chosen routes.

In support of this, every post-primary school in Northern Ireland is a member of an Area Learning Community (ALC) This provides a mechanism for schools to work collaboratively with other schools and FE colleges to deliver the requirements of the EF. Each ALC also has a careers sub-group comprising careers teachers and coordinators from the participating schools and representatives from the Careers Service. They aim to share best practice, develop joint events for their pupils, and work together on issues such as engaging with local employers and identifying opportunities for apprenticeships in their local area.

A number of local Labour Market Partnerships and ALCs are currently working in partnership to enhance career connections and potential pathways between schools and local industry. My officials are working with the Department for Communities to replicate this across all ALCs.