CCEA launches new teaching packs

CCEA, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment, has launched two new classroom resources to support the teaching of Citizenship in primary and post-primary schools.

The launch took place during the prestigious Four Nations Conference on Education for Citizenship, which is this year being held in Northern Ireland for the first time.

The Conference brings together teachers and experts from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to discuss the development of citizenship education in schools, and to facilitate ideas-sharing between the four UK regions and delegates from the Republic of Ireland.

Speaking at the conference in the Belfast’s Europa Hotel, Carmel Gallagher, CCEA Curriculum Development Manager, said: “CCEA has just conducted a major consultation with schools, employers and the wider community about the type of learning opportunities young people aged 11-14 should have. There seems to be widespread support for a proposed new area called ‘Learning for Life and Work’, which includes ‘Education about Local and Global Citizenship’.

"This is an area that young people themselves have told us they want to know a lot more about. Given this week’s local Assembly elections, it is heartening for the future of effective democracy in Northern Ireland that young people here have a real interest in learning about what it means to be an active citizen."

Education for citizenship is already being piloted in 100 post-primary schools in Northern Ireland.

Up to five teachers in each post-primary school will receive specific training in this area.

CCEA said the two new teaching packs, ‘Primary Values’ and ‘Local and Global Citizenship’, would provide practical, classroom materials for teachers to help them develop young peoples’ ability to think about some of the major challenges that face society both locally and globally.

(MB)