PART VIII THE NORTHERN IRELAND COUNCIL FOR THE CURRICULUM, EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENT

Discharge by the Council of its functions

79.—(1) In carrying out its functions under this Part the Council shall—

(a) comply with Article 80(7) (work programme);

(b) so far as relevant, have regard to—

(i) the requirements of industry, commerce and the professions regarding education; and

(ii) the requirements of persons with special learning needs; and

(c) seek to ensure that the standards of examinations and assessments conducted by bodies or authorities in Northern Ireland are recognised as equivalent to the standards of examinations and assessments conducted by bodies or authorities exercising similar functions elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

(2) In paragraph (1) “persons with special learning needs” means—

(a) children with special educational needs (as defined in Article 3 of the [1996 NI 1.] Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996); and

(b) persons who have a learning difficulty (as defined in Article 3 of the [1997 NI 15.] Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997).