All-Island School History Competition Launched

A 'Decade of Centenaries' all-island schools history competition has been launched today by Education Minister John O'Dowd and his Irish counterpart Jan O'Sullivan.

The competition invites primary and post primary students across Ireland to submit a project on any topic relevant to the school history curriculum.

Minister O’Dowd said: "In this fast changing world, we tend to define ourselves by where we are going but to truly understand who we are, we need to look at where we have been. Assessing the impact of an event or person from that decade on their local area can help students understand how historical events impact on the everyday lives of ordinary people. The importance of understanding history should not be underestimated and I urge schools across Ireland to get involved."

Minister O’Sullivan said: "I am delighted to announce the second 'Decade of Centenaries' all-island schools history competition. I am optimistic that students across the island will display the same level of enthusiasm for the competition as they did last year. It gives our students an opportunity to examine how specific events in our past have influenced the society around them. It also provides a platform for students to refine and showcase the research and analytical skills that will benefit them in their history studies and also in other subject areas."

Projects can be submitted by a class, a group of students, or an individual student.

There are four categories in the competition:

• Biography,

• Local/regional,

• National, and

• 'Decade of Centenaries'.



(IT/MH)