Education Minister, Peter Weir, announced details of a significant programme of projects to mark the centenary of the establishment of Northern Ireland in 1921.
The NI100 Education Programme will deliver a series of projects aimed at different age groups and aspects of the curriculum throughout the 2021/22 academic year.
These will include a ‘School in 1921’ experience during which schools can have some themed teaching and learning around life in 1921 and then a special day of events to mark the NI Centenary.
A coding programme will be rolled out for primary schools to help pupils prepare them for the future challenges in the workplace over the next 100 years.
The Department will also launch a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style competition for post-primary pupils to encourage the development of entrepreneurship, marketing and creative thinking.
Finally participating schools will be offered a time capsule to capture key moments and themes of this anniversary year for pupils of the future.
Making the announcement during a visit to Millisle Primary School, Peter Weir said: “I am pleased to announce details of the NI100 Education Programme. I have already launched CCEA’s excellent suite of Shared History Curriculum Resources and I would encourage school leaders to review these for use in their school.
“These exciting new education projects, which will mark the centenary during the coming school year, will have a strong curriculum focus and are designed to enhance the teaching of key areas of learning, particularly the World Around Us, History, ICT and entrepreneurship education. These programmes are varied across the age spectrum and look forward, as well as back, to prepare pupils for future challenges in the workplace.
“It is a privilege for me to mark Northern Ireland’s centenary through this significant suite of projects, and these events will have a significant positive impact in enhancing the learning experiences for our pupils and also in promoting good relations and mutual understanding across Northern Ireland.”
The Programme also includes the recently launched 'From Ulster to Northern Ireland’ CCEA Shared History Hub which includes a wide range of learning materials, curricular guides and links to explore around partition and the creation of Northern Ireland. The hub provides digital tools to support schools to learn about shared history in a positive, inclusive and constructive environment.
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