Pupils learn why it’s so important to... learn

May 1 2008 by Katie Bodinger, Western Mail

CHILDREN across Wales took part in a record attempt for the world’s biggest lesson.

The 30-minute lesson was for the Global Campaign for Education, which promotes education as a basic human right– 72 million of the world’s children miss out on that right every day.

Youngsters at Millbank School in Caerau, Cardiff, were among millions joining together for the event, to highlight the plight of one in nine children who don’t go to school.

Deputy headteacher Elaine Meyrick said all the children had enjoyed being part of such a huge occasion.

“It was fantastic. The children were really engaged. It expanded their understanding of the importance of schooling and helped them to value their own education more,” she said.

“They had a lesson about the fact that many children are not lucky enough to go to school and then we followed it up with an assembly.

“It fitted in well with our global awareness week.”

The campaign aims to ensure that governments and the international community fulfil their promises to provide free, compulsory public basic education for all people, in particular for children and girls.

Other Welsh schools taking part were Haverfordwest VC Junior School, in Pembrokeshire, and Ysgol Gymraeg Rhyd y Grug, in Treharris. It is not yet known whether the world record has been broken, but campaigns officer for Oxfam Cymru, Julian Prosser, said the lesson was about raising awareness.

“We will find out over the next few days whether it will be in the Guinness Book of Records,” he said. “This is something that has been happening all over the world, in Africa, South America, Asia and here, in Wales. Everyone taking part has one aim – to help to make sure all children are given an education. There needs to be pressure put on governments to meet their commitments to reduce poverty in the world.”