NEW DfEE ANNOUNCES STRUCTURE AND AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The permanent secretaries to the department for education and employment, Michael Bichard and Tim Lankester, have announced details of the senior management structure for the integrated department together with its aims and objectives.

It will mean an overall reduction in the number of posts at divisional manager level (currently grade 5 and some grade 6s) and above from 140 in January 1994 to 95 in the new organisation - i.e. a reduction of 32%.

Of this total, a reduction of 9 posts had already occurred by June 1995

There has also been a senior management review of the employment service. The result will be a reduction in posts at Grade 6 and above from 55 at January 1994 to 42, a 24% saving.

THE DfEE'S AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Aims

To support economic growth and improve the nation's competitiveness and quality of life by raising standards of educational achievement and skill and by promoting an efficient and flexible labour market.

Objectives

To enable children, young people and adults to achieve skills and qualifications at the highest standard of which they are capable and to ensure progress towards the National Targets for Education and Training.

To equip young people for the responsibilities of adult life and the world of work.

To encourage lifetime learning so that people can use their skills and knowledge to compete effectively in a changing labour market.

To develop a coherent framework of high quality national qualifications for all ages reflecting both academic and vocational achievement.

To promote the advancement of understanding and knowledge across all subjects, including through the support of high quality research.

To enhance choice, diversity and excellence in education and training.

To provide a framework to encourage employers to invest in the skills needed for competitive business.

To help unemployed people into work.

To promote equality of opportunity in education, training and at work, particularly with regard to gender, race, disability and age; and to further women's issues more generally.

To pursue the Government's aims for employment and for education and training (including education and training exports) in the European Union and more widely.

In pursuing these objectives, the Department will:

- ensure that they are carried out in the most efficient and cost effective way and that quality is assured;

- equip everyone with the skills, competence and information needed to do the job effectively;

- build on new opportunities made possible by technological developments;

- work in partnership with a wide range of agencies and organisations.