Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

Functions of the Council in relation to accreditation and approval of certain external qualifications

75.—(1) The Council shall—

(a) with the approval of the Department, develop and publish criteria for the accreditation of relevant external qualifications;

(b) accredit, where they meet such criteria, any such qualifications submitted for accreditation.

(2) The Council shall advise the Department on the exercise of its powers under Article 81.

(3) In this Article—

“external qualification” means any academic or vocational qualification authenticated or awarded by an outside person;

“relevant external qualification” means an external qualification which—

(a)

is, or is to be, provided for—

(i)

pupils in attendance at a grant-aided school; or

(ii)

persons under the age of 19 in full-time attendance at an institution of further education; and

(b)

is designated by the Department for the purposes of this Article;

• “outside person” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a school, a person other than a member of staff of the school;

  (b)

  in relation to an institution of further education, a person other than a member of staff of the institution.

(4) The Department shall notify the Council in writing of any designation made by it under paragraph (3).