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29/07/2003
Social work training to get new funding scheme
Health Minister, Angela Smith has announced a new funding scheme for students planning to study social work in Northern Ireland from September 2004 onwards.
Commenting on the scheme, the Minister said it marked a dramatic milestone in the process of reforming professional social work training.
She added: “It has been identified that the social work workforce requires at least 300 newly qualified social workers annually to meet the needs of Northern Ireland. This scheme is designed to attract a wide spectrum of applicants, by making the social work degree more accessible to all. Thereby, we will hope to ensure that the social work workforce reflects the community as a whole."
Among the benefits for undertaking the new Honours Degree in Social Work, students can expect:
"Social workers fulfil a demanding role, providing essential help and support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. This scheme will help us to attract the best possible social work students to meet the needs of users of services and their carers.”
(MB)
Commenting on the scheme, the Minister said it marked a dramatic milestone in the process of reforming professional social work training.
She added: “It has been identified that the social work workforce requires at least 300 newly qualified social workers annually to meet the needs of Northern Ireland. This scheme is designed to attract a wide spectrum of applicants, by making the social work degree more accessible to all. Thereby, we will hope to ensure that the social work workforce reflects the community as a whole."
Among the benefits for undertaking the new Honours Degree in Social Work, students can expect:
- Non-means-tested bursaries of at least £2,500 in each year of the course
- An additional element will be payable for mature students (25 years old and over)
- £500 towards travel expenses incurred during work based learning
- Tuition fees paid.
- Continued access to normal student support through local education authority funding and student loans.
"Social workers fulfil a demanding role, providing essential help and support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. This scheme will help us to attract the best possible social work students to meet the needs of users of services and their carers.”
(MB)
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16 August 2001
Northern Ireland pupils are in a class of their own
Northern Ireland students have outperformed their peers in England and Wales in both A-level and the new AS level exams. Figures released by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) on Thursday August 16 show a record 48,000 grades have been issued to Northern Ireland students across all exam boards.
Northern Ireland pupils are in a class of their own
Northern Ireland students have outperformed their peers in England and Wales in both A-level and the new AS level exams. Figures released by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) on Thursday August 16 show a record 48,000 grades have been issued to Northern Ireland students across all exam boards.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
