Minister for European Affairs Dara Murphy T.D. today welcomed the award by the European Parliament of the European Parliament Citizen’s Prize to the teachers of the Blue Star EU primary education programme.
Speaking after the announcement, Minister Murphy said:
“This award is due recognition of the success of the Blue Star programme since its roll out in 2011. While some 200 schools participated over the course of the first three years, already this year more than 160 schools have expressed an interest in participating.
The award specifically to the Blue Star programme teachers is an acknowledgement that without their continuing involvement and commitment the programme would not have been the success it has been. The management and development of the programme by European Movement Ireland has also been exemplary.’’
The Minister also paid tribute to the programme partners: the European Parliament Information Office in Ireland, the European Commission Representation in Ireland and the Department of Education and Skills.
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Background for editors
The Blue Star Programme, which started in 2011, is managed by European Movement Ireland and is funded though the Government’s Communicating Europe Initiative. Partners in the programme along with the Department of the Taoiseach are the European Commission Representation, European Parliament Information Office and the Department of Education and Skills.
The aim of the programme is to foster better understanding and knowledge, among primary school children, of the EU and Ireland’s membership within it, through classroom projects and activities. There are four project areas: historical, geographical, cultural, institutional. Additionally, 2015 will focus on the European Year of Development.
Over 15,000 students have taken part in the Blue Star so far and this year, the 4th year of the programme, sees over 160 schools already signed up to the Blue Star Programme.
This year’s programme was launched in October by the Taoiseach, the Minister for European Affairs and Data Protection, Dara Murphy T.D. and Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan T.D. The new dedicated website for the Blue Star Programme was also launched by Minister Dara Murphy in November.
The website is http://www.bluestarprogramme.ie/
Blue Star Programme launch 2014 links:
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/Category-Index/Education/Blue_Star_EU_Primary_School_Programme_2014_%E2%80%93_2017_launched.html
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/Gallery/Images/Murphy_launches_primary_school_programme_on_the_EU_in_Cork_%C2%A0.html
Information on European Citizen’s Prize:
Blue Star Programme Teachers are one of Ireland's 2014 laureates for the European Citizen's Prize.
The prize is an award for exceptional achievements in promoting better mutual understanding and closer integration between citizens of the Member States, or day to day activities giving concrete expression to the values entailed in the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union.
Nominations are made by MEPs, and a maximum of 50 national Laureates are chosen from all around the EU.