Significant steps to modernise the education system, including the development of a performance-management system for all primary and post-primary schools, will be implemented over the next five years. According to a National Agreement document, which is expected to be ratified shortly, the development of a school plan and a performance management system will be an important factor in improving performance in education.

There will be major expansion of educational courses for young adults through a "back-to-education initiative", to improve opportunities for those with inadequate education or skills.

There will also be a rapid expansion in adult literacy and numeracy services. Over the period of the agreement, investment in the adult literacy service will total £30 million. Up to 46,000 people are expected to benefit from the programme.

The quality of schooling will be improved, it says, through enhanced staff development programmes and the implementation of curricular reforms. There will be a strong emphasis on school planning and development. There will also be strategies to address learning difficulties. Significant investment is planned for the renewal and provision of school buildings so that modern standards are met in all schools. One of the plan's objectives is the promotion of information and communications technologies in teaching and learning.

The operation of the existing scheme for exemption from exam fees will be reviewed to improve its effectiveness for low-income families.

There will be provision for the education of refugees, asylum seekers and Travellers. This will involve the provision of an additional teaching post on a temporary basis for a period of up to two years for primary and post-primary schools which have 15 or more non-English speaking pupils. In addition, the Refugee Language Support Unit, established under the auspices of Trinity College, will be provided with a budget of approximately £1.2 million over the agreement period.

Participation of young people in non-formal education through youth work will be "significantly enhanced" through the implementation of the Youth Work Amendment Act. There will be a strategic direction for the development of youth work through the implementation of the National Youth Work Development Plan, which is currently being devised by the National Youth Work Advisory Committee.

There will be a major expansion of part-time options under VTOS, Youthreach and PLC programmes. There will be a total investment of £425 million in order to ensure that adults have basic ICT skills knowledge. This is expected to provide an extra 11,900 part-time places annually in education.

An additional 500 teaching posts per annum over the period of the agreement will be allocated to meet greatest needs.

Aimed specifically at those who leave school early without qualifications, the document also states that it will be a criminal offence for any employer to employ a young person between 16 and 18 without a certificate from the Educational Welfare Board.

Teaching news is compiled by Catherine Foley