Northern Ireland hosted the fifth UK Education Ministers' Council (EMC) meeting at Laurelhill Community College in Lisburn. The meeting, attended by Education Minister Paul Givan, UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, and Welsh Education Minister Lynne Neagle, focused on key issues such as teacher professional learning, recruitment, and retention.

Speaking at the meeting Education Minister Paul Givan said: "It is a pleasure to welcome colleagues from across the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland for the first time for the UK Education Ministers' Council meeting.

"Meetings such as this build on existing good relationships developed over many years between our respective jurisdictions and provide important opportunities to better understand and learn from policies and working practices outside our own country, share best practice and experience, and agree ways of working together for the teaching profession right across the United Kingdom for future years."

The UK Education Ministers' Council was established in January 2022 and has previously met in England, Scotland and Wales.

Education Ministers' Council Meetings take place regularly.

The Minister continued: "During the meeting we heard from the four Initial Teacher Education institutions in Northern Ireland including Stranmillis and St. Mary's University Colleges, Queen's University and Ulster University and learned about the range of courses available to students. The colleges highlighted the benefits of technology in teaching, the opportunities for post-graduate study as well as how teachers are trained to teach children and young people with special educational needs."

The Minister concluded: "Each of our jurisdictions has its own distinct education system. We all share a common goal: to continuously improve the quality of teaching and learning for the benefit of our children and young people, our teachers and the broader education system. We remain committed to that goal."

The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP reiterated the UK Government's commitment to its obligations under the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, including school twinning. Minister Givan welcomed the engagement that has taken place and the work that is underway in regard to this project.

It was agreed that the Welsh Government would host the next meeting.