WorldWise Global Schools: Bringing a Global Perspective into Irish Classrooms

Mariola Neumann, Katie Mooney and Marta Pela from Presentation College Carlow at the launch of the new WorldWise Global Schools programme.

WorldWise Global Schools (WWGS) is Irish Aid’s innovative new development education programme for post-primary schools. The programme aims to increase the spread, number and mix of post-primary schools engaging with development education themes and approaches.

The Director of WWGS, Mary McCarthy, says the programme is designed as a ‘one-stop shop’ for development education, and that it will deliver a wide range of supports including grant funding, resources, training and support. This approach will enable post-primary schools to embed a global justice perspective in their teaching and learning.

“Development education forms a vital part of Irish Aid’s efforts to tackle poverty and injustice"

Speaking at the recent launch of WWGS at the Irish Aid Centre on O’Connell St, Dublin, Minister Costello said that educating today’s students on issues relating to global development was vitally important: “Development education forms a vital part of Irish Aid’s efforts to tackle poverty and injustice, to promote peace and democracy, and to safeguard human rights across the world. The greatest benefit of development education is that it helps to create better, more effective and engaged global citizens,” he said.

WWGS is being implemented over a four-year period (2013 – 2016) through a consortium comprising Self Help Africa, Concern Worldwide and the City of Dublin Education and Training Board Curriculum Development Unit.

There will be an annual grants round to which all post-primary schools, networks and NGOs working with schools are eligible to apply for funding for development education work and capacity building. The next round will be held in Spring 2014.