Cross border school and youth cooperation to receive major boost

Education Minister, Martin McGuinness, and Dr Michael Woods TD, Minister for Education and Science in Dublin, have announced EU funding of over five million euro to support cross-border school and youth cooperation projects.

Around three-quarters of the funding will be provided under the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE II). The balance will be provided by the two Governments.

The new funding will promote cross border activity through education and youth services to improve the quality of education provision, in areas including special needs, attendance/retention, literacy/numeracy, exchange opportunities and joint teacher and leader activities.

The main objectives of the measure are to develop innovative projects and programmes for children, young people, teachers and youth workers to address a range of issues of common concern in local communities.

Actions to promote the social inclusion of, and reconciliation and mutual understanding between, children and young people in disadvantaged communities and groups will be particularly targeted. Interventions will focus on co-operative projects between schools and the communities they serve; among youth organisations and between the responsible public authorities.

Dr Woods and Mr McGuinness welcomed the opportunity for their Departments to adopt a collaborated approach in addressing these issues. They said the success of the cooperation in the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE I) was already evident in the large number of jointly supported projects which have successfully addressed issues of mutual concern. (MB)