From September 2005 the Special Educational Needs and Disabiltiy Order, or SENDO as it is more commonly known, will come into effect in Northern Ireland.

Skill NI has campaigned long and hard to ensure that this important piece of legislation is to be introduced. We are already quite some bit behind our companions in the UK, who have been covered under the same legislation since 2002.

The changes will strengthen the rights of children and students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) to be educated in mainstream schools and colleges.

It will place new duties on further and higher Education institutions to ensure that no student is treated less favourably, without justification, for a reason that relates to their disability. It will also place a duty on them to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that people with disabilities are not put at a substantial disadvantage (compared to people who are not disabled) in accessing further and higher education.

Are you ready for SENDO?

If you are a student with a disability and/or learning difficultly then visit the student pages on this website to view what your new rights are or contact the Skill NI Information Service who will be more than happy to help you with any queries that you may have.

If you work at a college or univerisity did you know that Skill NI can help you as you make preparations for the SENDO legislation. We offer advice and information, access audits of building, as well as policies and procedures, as well as providing staff training and development. If you would call more detail please use the Contact us form or call us on 028 9028 7000

The government has announced its proposals for changes to the Higher Education system in Northern Ireland.

The proposals will include the introduction of variable tuition fees for students who enter Higher Education from September 2006. This will enable universities, and other providers of higher education, in Northern Ireland to charge variable fees to a maximum of £3000. This fee will be capped, and rise only with inflation, through the lifetime of the next parliament.

The current system of paying tuition fees of up to £1125 upfront will be abolished. Under the new proposals, fees will be paid by graduates in line with their income, at a rate of interest, which equates only to the current rate of inflation.

Institutions that wish to charge fees, above the current rate, will only be allow to do so if they have in force a plan approved by the Department of Employment and Learning that will show that the institution will also make efforts to encourage students frm under-represented groups to come to their institution.

Further Education Means Business

In 2004 the Department of Employment and Learning held a consultation on the role of the statutory further education sector entitled 'Further Education Means Business', proposing a new stragetic direction for the sector.

It states that the strategic aim of the sector should focus on its role as the primary agent of lifelong learning. It is recommended that - Further education should be at the heart of lifelong learning in order to strengthen economic development, enhance social cohesion, and advance the individual's skills and learning.

A primary objective of the sector will be to support economic development. There will also be increased cooperation between the colleges promoting collaboration rather than competition. There will also be improved relations with other educational, social and economic bodies.

The very core of the strategy is to improve what the sector can provide to the learner, to employers, to local communities and to Northern Ireland. It sets out to establish a common purpose for the sector, and a new set of strategic partnerships to help colleges deal more effectively with the problems facing them. This role is based on the broad concept of lifelong learning.

You can still view Further Education Means Business . The Department has also published its findings from the consultation. The Skill NI response is still also available to view.

If the strategy is adopted after the consultation period, it will be followed by:

· The development of a more detailed Regional Delivery Plan for further education.
· Legislation to underpin change
· Potential changes in structure

It is predicted that it will require two to three years to implement these changes to the sector.