The UNESCO Centre today submitted its response to the Northern Ireland Draft Programme for Government. The response focusses mainly on issues relating to our Children and Youth Programme and outlines a range of comments on subjects such as child poverty, education, employment and training. The response also highlights some approaches which further reflect the findings of our recent report on policy development and implementation.
The UNESCO Centre at the University of Ulster Response to the Northern Ireland Draft Programme for Government
- The UNESCO Centre at the University of Ulster
- For the past ten years the UNESCO Centre at the University of Ulster has built a national and international academic reputation. Our research in education and peacebuilding has been acknowledged as world leading and has helped to inform and influence some of the most important development debates currently being addressed by international bodies, such as The World Bank, UNICEF, and UNESCO.
- UNESCO is the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. It currently comprises 193 Member States and seven Associate Member States.
- UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilisations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’s mission and activities.
- The UNESCO Chair in Education for Pluralism, Human Rights and Democracy was established in 1999 as part of a formal agreement between the University of Ulster and UNESCO.
- The Chair, held by Professor Alan Smith, is part of a network of more than 706 UNESCO Chairs and 69 UNITWIN networks, involving over 820 institutions in 131 countries.
- As members of the UNESCO International education network, UNESCO Chair holders are encouraged to act as ‘bridge builders’ by establishing and sustaining dynamic links between the academic world, civil society, local communities and policy makers.
- The key themes of the work of the UNESCO Centre at the University of Ulster are: Children and Youth, Education, Health and Well-being, and Conflict and International Development.
- For more information on the work of the UNESCO Centre at the University of Ulster please visit http://www.unescocentre.ulster.ac.uk/.
- The Children and Youth Programme at the UNESCO Centre
- The Children and Youth Programme at the UNESCO Centre (CYP) is an independent, academic collaboration between the two UNESCO Chairs in Ireland at the University of Ulster and NUI Galway. Using a multidisciplinary framework, the Programme draws upon the knowledge and expertise of researchers from a wide range of disciplines on issues affecting children and youth.
- We are currently engaging with government departments in both Northern Ireland and Ireland on two key points – the value of a rights based approach to the planning and provision of children’s services in both parts of the island, and the possibility of both governments incorporating a stronger commitment to children’s rights in legislation.
- The first output of the CYP will comprise a series of Special Reports and corresponding Briefing Papers to be disseminated at regular intervals during 2011 and 2012. Two Foundation Reports, A Rights-based Approach to Monitoring Children and Young People’s Well-being and Policy Development and Implementation will be followed by four thematic reports addressing issues including youth justice, educational achievement, mental health, and civic engagement.
- The CYP is headed by Professor Alan Smith, holder of the UNESCO Chair in Education for Pluralism, Human Rights and Democracy, and Professor Pat Dolan, holder of the UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement.
- Professor Alan Smith is currently an advisor to the UNESCO Education for All, Global Monitoring Report and is also currently undertaking research for UNICEF on education and the protection of children in conflict affected countries. In September 2011, Professor Pat Dolan was appointed as a member of a new Government Task Force, named by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, TD. The Task Force has been established to advise the Government on the necessary transition programme in establishing a dedicated Child & Family Support Agency. Both Professor Smith and Professor Dolan are members of a research group to support the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership in Ireland (North and South).
- Further information on the work of the UNESCO Chairs in Ireland and the Children and Youth Programme can be accessed on the dedicated Programme website, www.childrenandyouthprogramme.info.
- UNESCO Centre and CYP Response to the Northern Ireland Programme for Government
- The UNESCO Centre welcomes the Northern Ireland Programme for Government and looks forward to engaging with government departments around its implementation over the next four years.
- We are confident that government in Northern Ireland realises both the importance and the urgency of the need to tackle the issues facing children and youth in our society, not least in terms of their education, health and future economic prospects.
- However, while we welcome the publication of the Programme for Government we are concerned at the lack of specific policy commitments and associated targets in relation to children and youth in Northern Ireland.
- The CYP at the UNESCO Centre also notes a worrying divergence of detail in many of the commitments contained within the draft document. While some have detailed and ambitious targets set against them, others are vague and highly aspirational in what they hope to achieve, with little in the way of timelines or targets.
- As a result, we are unsure if this Programme for Government was fully joined up in its drafting, and subsequently concerned as to whether it will be joined up in its delivery.
- The Key Priorities outlined in the Draft document reference a number of ‘Building Blocks’ that will form the basis for delivery of Programme for Government Commitments. While we welcome the retention of a continuous policy thread with regard to delivery, we are concerned about the current status of some of the Building Blocks and their potential to act as levers for change. Many are in varying stages of implementation and delivery, for example the Child Poverty Strategy, and the 10 Year Strategy for Children and Young People.
- This raises two key points – how many of the commitments within the draft Programme for Government are new and innovative, and, where does priority lie – the full implementation of the Building Blocks, or the commitments outlined in the Draft Programme?
- Almost every area of children’s policy requires collaboration between departments and across sectors to ensure the development and implementation of programmes and services that meet the needs of the children and young people for whom it is intended. Adopting a collaborative approach has the potential to meet the obligations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to enhance policy and provision. The ongoing absence of a statutory duty to co-operate continues to limit the extent of meaningful collaboration.
- The Children and Youth Programme believes that the General Measures of Implementation as set down by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child are a clear benchmark for policy development and should be fully endorsed by policy makers in Northern Ireland.
- For those strategies in which OFMDFM takes a lead role we strongly encourage a more robust mechanism of accountability so that all departments remain aware of their obligations and commitments.
- The CYP believes that child rights training should be a statutory requirement for all professional groups working with children and young people. A statutory requirement for child-centred training creates capacity for a rights respecting culture where the guiding principles of the Convention should underpin policy decisions on issues affecting children and young people.
- The CYP believes that government should move towards developing a dedicated Childrens’ Budget in Northern Ireland as both an aid to increasing collaboration across departments and also as a strong public commitment to placing children and young people at the top of the list of government priorities. This will have a number of benefits including development and monitoring of SMART targets and performance.
- It would also be desirable if, in future, the Programme for Government was produced prior to its corresponding budget.
- The CYP would also recommend that policy is consistent with a holistic approach to the well-being of children and youth and all policy is child rights proofed. A corresponding review of all policy to ensure it is UNCRC compliant and rights proofed is also necessary.
- Specific Commitments relating to Children and Young People
- Implement an Integrated and Affordable Childcare Strategy (OFMDFM, P37).
- The CYP welcomes this announcement from social, economic and employment perspectives. Investment at an early age is to be welcomed and research evidence suggests that it can lead to improved social, emotional, health and educational well-being which takes the strain off budgets and resources at a later stage.
- Quality care needs to be affordable as research indicates that cost is a major barrier preventing parents on the lowest incomes accessing child care.
- Deliver a range of measures to tackle poverty and social exclusion (OFMDFM, p37).
- This is a very welcome commitment but we have concerns about a lack of detail around milestones and delivery processes in some areas.
- However, we warmly welcome the potential that a poverty outcomes model offers, in terms of how it can encourage inter departmental cooperation and how it can be used to strategically review existing processes and target new approaches.
- Fulfil our commitments under the Child Poverty Act to reduce child poverty (OFMDFM, P38).
- Again, the inclusion of a poverty outcomes model is welcome although once again there is a real need for clarity around key milestones and delivery targets with regard to this commitment.
- A concern also must be raised with regard to the funding arrangements in place under this commitment.
- A deep concern remains that government needs to do more and at a quicker pace in order to meet its commitments under the Child Poverty Act. A real step change is required if we are, in fact, not to fall further behind in this area.
- We are particularly concerned about the potential of proposed action plans to reduce child poverty which increased to 28% in Northern Ireland in 2009/10, 8 percentage points above the United Kingdom average.
- There is a need for development of specific Northern Ireland targets relating to persistent poverty. Earlier research has indicated levels of persistent child poverty double that in Great Britain, with one in five children living in households in Northern Ireland which are persistently poor.
- Support people (with an emphasis on young people) in to employment by providing skills and training (DEL, p37).
- With the current levels of unemployment, particularly among young people in Northern Ireland, this is a very welcome and crucially important commitment.
- However, we would be interested to see how the very specific cumulative milestones were arrived at and, more specifically, how they are going to be achieved.
- Government should be aware that approaching this issue within an over-arching policy framework of early identification and early intervention will not only save valuable resources but also increase the chances of achieving this commitment.
- We would like to acknowledge and commend the process of producing the recent NEET Strategy as a good example of government working collaboratively with key stakeholders.
- Increase the proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who achieve at least 5 GCSE’s at A*-C or equivalent including GCSE’s in Maths and English (DE, p33).
- This commitment is welcome but must be supported by a programme of intervention measures in the early stages of education.
- It should also be noted that even if government meets the target it has set itself of 49% by 2014/15, over half our young people from disadvantaged background will not achieve at least 5 GCSE’s at A*-C.
- As disadvantage has many forms there is a need to provide more disaggregated data around this issue to ensure that interventions and policy approaches are reaching all those who need it.
- Improve literacy and numeracy levels among all school leavers, with additional resources targeted at areas of educational underachievement (DE, p38).
- This is a welcome commitment but should not be approached in isolation – its success is also critical to the success of commitments outlined above for DE (P33), and for DEL (p37).
- Targeted early intervention, particularly for the most disadvantaged should be highlighted and promoted to ensure that these issues are resolved well before school leaving age. This will help government to save resources in the long run, whilst also helping to achieve other commitments outlined in the draft Programme for Government.
- The CYP would welcome the opportunity to work with the Department of Education on these issues and help to develop a strategy which encompasses all the factors which can lead to educational underachievement.
- Ensure that at least one year of pre-school education is available to every family that wants it (DE, p37).
- The CYP welcomes this commitment and would like to see more detail on how it will be delivered, particularly around possible demand and supply of the service.
- Establish a Ministerial advisory group to explore and bring forward recommendations to the Minister of Education to advance shared education (DE).
- The UNESCO Centre welcomes this commitment and would be happy to work with Department of Education Officials in developing these recommendations. With our longstanding experience in providing high quality research into integrated and shared education in Northern Ireland and we believe that we can make a positive contribution to the delivery of this commitment.
- Implement an Integrated and Affordable Childcare Strategy (OFMDFM, P37).
Related Links:
- Available to view on the CYP website: Our breakdown of the commitments of the Northern Ireland Programme for Government 2011 of direct relevance to the Children and Youth Programme.
- Download a printable PDF of our response.