The Commissioner, Chris Quinn, met Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, this week to discuss the urgent need to improve opportunities for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) beyond the age of 19. The Commissioner reiterated the importance of legislative change, alongside enhanced support, resourcing, and cross-departmental cooperation in line with the Children’s Services Cooperation Act.
Ensuring that every young person, regardless of their needs, has access to meaningful education, training, personal development and employment pathways must be a priority for government.
His conversation with Minister Archibald provided an opportunity to discuss concerns that have been raised with him by young people, parents, and carers.
In a very focused discussion, the Commissioner pressed the Minister on the need for people to see change, highlighting that often much needed resources disappear into a system that is bureaucratic and warned against more work streams, deep dives or strategies.
The Minister reassured the Commissioner that work is ongoing, and she hopes to make public her intentions on the issue of post 19 SEND education and training soon. She highlighted the work of a Joint Ministerial Group and her focus on enhanced careers advice and pathways, also stressing the pressure of working in a challenging timeframe with only two years remaining in the current Mandate.
Chris said: “In a recent event at Stormont, Ministers for Economy, Education and Health all spoke publicly in support of the need for real and meaningful change for young people with additional needs beyond the age of 19. I see no reason why these words cannot be put into action. We need legislative change, and we need it now. If there is a will there is a way”
In addition to SEND, Chris shared barriers that have been highlighted to him with regards to further and higher education, highlighted to him by young people from a Roma background as well as those who are educated through the medium of Irish. The Minister has agreed to follow up on these issues.
With much commentary lately on the Independent Review of Education, Chris used the opportunity to discuss its impact on the Department for Economy, highlighting that the Children’s Services Cooperation Act could be a catalyst for pooling resources, enhanced cross departmental communication and working, and ensuring the right for children and young people to have support and opportunities.
Chris commented: “We discussed the 14-19 curriculum, emphasizing the importance of expanding access to vocational pathways, improving transitions between educational stages, and ensuring that all young people, including those with SEND, can benefit from high-quality training and apprenticeships.”
Additionally, the Commissioner emphasised the need to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into domestic law.
Chris stated: “Doing so would provide a stronger legal framework for policymaking and resource allocation, ensuring greater accountability and long-term positive impacts on public spending. Embedding children’s rights at the heart of legislation and policy would represent a significant step toward delivering a fairer, more equitable education system in Northern Ireland.
“We welcome the Minister’s engagement on these crucial issues and look forward to continued collaboration to drive real and lasting change.”
