UK Education Ministers Council communiqué: 20 November 2024
Published 20 November 2024
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The UK Education Ministers’ Council (UKEMC) met for the fifth time on Thursday 20 November 2024 at Laurelhill Community College in Lisburn.
Attendees
The meeting was chaired by Paul Givan MLA, Minister of Education in Northern Ireland. Minister Givan was joined by:
- The Rt. Hon. Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education from the UK Government
- Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education in Wales
- officials from all 4 nations
What was discussed
The Chair welcomed attendees to the fifth meeting of the UKEMC, an Education Interministerial Group. The attendees toured Laurelhill Community College including watching rehearsals for the school’s annual drama production. There were also opportunities to meet with students to discuss their experiences.
The theme of the meeting was teacher professional learning and teacher recruitment and retention.
The Chair welcomed representatives from the 4 initial teacher education institutions in Northern Ireland:
- Stranmillis
- St. Mary’s University Colleges
- Queens University
- Ulster University
They gave a presentation on:
- the range of courses available
- how the courses prepare students to support those with special educational needs
- how students are prepared to use technology in their teaching careers
- opportunities for post-graduate study
Ministers also discussed UK policy for international students.
It was agreed that the Welsh Government would host the next meeting.