Minister praises workplace learning partnerships

Minster for Employment and Learning, Carmel Hanna, has said getting more employers and unions to co-operate to provide increased opportunities for learning for all employees in the workplace is vital to creating a real culture of lifelong learning.

Mrs Hanna was speaking at the launch of a new IT training programme for non-professional staff of the Newry & Mourne Health & Social Services Trust, at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, organised in conjunction with Unison, the public sector trade union.

The programme complements the Trust’s on-going IT training efforts by offering non IT users within the health environment the opportunity to train for a European Computer Driving License, through a mobile training unit parked in the hospital grounds.

The Minister said: “Widening access to all forms and levels of learning is central to my Department’s strategy for lifelong learning. Provision in both the further and higher education sectors has already been expanded, and my Department has also taken steps to ensure that the colleges and universities attract students from previously under-represented groups.

“Learning alongside colleagues at work can instil confidence and give mutual encouragement to those who perhaps thought their learning days were long behind them. We want to encourage more learning partnerships between employers and their staff, and my Department will be working closely with the trade union movement in particular to achieve that end,” she said.

Mrs Sonia Ferris, Education Officer, Newry and Mourne Branch of Unison, said the partnership between the Trust and Staff Organisations was a "constructive step towards lifelong learning" that marked an important and special union between the Newry and Mourne Trust, Unison, Department of Employment and Learning and Computer Gym in taking a proactive step to future training.”

Mrs Ferris also announced that the Return 2 Learn Programme would soon be re-commencing.

The programme offers people with little or no qualifications a second chance to develop their skills on a personal and work level.

(SP)