Minister Kitt launches Irish Aid Development Education Strategy 2007-2011

The Minister of State for Overseas Development, Michael Kitt T.D., today launched Irish Aid’s new development education strategy Promoting Public Engagement for Development 2007-2011.  This new strategy sets out the plans and priorities for development education for the next five years.

Speaking at the launch of the new strategy the Minister said:

“A very important part of our overseas aid programme takes place right here in Ireland. Building awareness at home of the challenges of global development is key to supporting our work in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Our new strategy builds on over thirty years of experience of supporting development education in Ireland. This year Irish Aid will spend over €5 million supporting development education programmes in schools, colleges and community organisations throughout the country.

In 2007, Irish overseas aid will total €815 million. This money is being spent helping the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. This support is being given on behalf of the Irish people. We want to ensure that they have the opportunity to learn why it is given, where it goes and what it achieves.”

Note to editors:

The strategy is guided by the White Paper on Irish Aid. It states that “the Government intends that every person in Ireland will have access to educational opportunities to understand their rights and responsibilities as global citizens, as well as their potential to effect change for a more just and equal world”.

The strategy launched today builds on this earlier document, taking forward plans and introducing several new target areas and initiatives. The launch formed part of an Irish Aid Information Day to which members of the development education community were invited. Information sessions on various aspects of Irish Aid’s work in development education including its new Schools Linking and Immersion Scheme for second level schools and the soon to be opened Irish Aid Centre on O’Connell St., Dublin also took place.

The strategy focuses on a number of specific areas. There is a continuing emphasis on teacher education and curriculum support in both formal and non-formal education. Opportunities to expand into adult and further education will be examined and the need for more high quality research in development education is recognised. The new Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre which will open on O’Connell St. in the near future will provide a focal point for all these efforts.

Copies of the new strategy document and funding guidelines are available from Irish Aid’s Development Education Unit and from www.irishaid.gov.ie .