05/06/2007

Minister praises pupils involved with Eco-Schools

Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has praised the work of pupils involved in transforming their schools to Eco-status.

Speaking at Belfast’s Grand Opera House, Ms Ruane stressed the importance of making people aware of environmental issues and helping them learn to become citizens in their local and global community.

The Minister said: “Eco Schools offer our schools a way into a key area of the revised curriculum – citizenship. The effective citizen of tomorrow will be environmentally aware, and will be taking environmentally friendly decisions about their own values in their own and in society’s interest. In addition, projects such as this, which are interesting and relevant, make learning more enjoyable for those taking part.”

The Eco School programme provides a list of criteria which enables schools to analyse its energy output and the impact it is having on the environment.

Ms Ruane added: “It is vitally important that we all, and especially our young and their families, learn how to reduce their use energy. Reducing energy consumption will help everyone in the long term. In Ireland we enjoy our beautiful countryside, our rivers, our coasts, and our overall quality of life.

“We must not risk losing them.”

(JM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 November 2023
New Women's Night Safety Charter Launches Across NI
Hospitality Ulster has announced a new partnership with White Ribbon NI to launch and support the rollout of a new Women's Night Safety Charter across Northern Ireland, in support of the campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
09 January 2009
Primary Pupils To Grow Their Own Food Industry
A primary schools' competition, launched in Northern Ireland, to enable children to gain a grassroots appreciation of the worth and value of food - by growing it themselves - has received its first entry.
26 November 2021
Education Minister Launches Series Of New NI100 Resources
A series of new resources, including 'A Time Capsule for 2021' and 'Life in the 1920's' curricular projects for schools, have been announced as part of the Department of Education's NI100 Education Programme.
21 May 2019
Pupil Uptake Of Language Studies Declines
The number of pupils opting to learn a language in schools across Northern Ireland is declining, according to a new report by the British Council. In the eight years leading to 2018, the number of pupils taking languages for their GCSEs declined by 19%, with significant falls in French (41%) and German (18%), while Spanish rose by 16%.
12 January 2004
Lottery funding aids schools' WWII history lessons
The New Opportunities Fund today launched National Lottery funding to enable Northern Ireland pupils to learn about the experiences of veterans of the Second World War. The scheme, 'Their Past – Your Future', is a UK-wide schools and education project which is being developed by the Imperial War Museum.