Yellow Flag Pilot Programme

NEWS RELEASE

Wednesday 21^st October 2009

MINISTER MARY HANAFIN PRESENTS INAUGURAL YELLOW FLAG AWARDS FOR DIVERSITY TO SCHOOLS

Research from Irish Traveller Movement calls for mainstreaming of intercultural education and anti-racism training for all teachers

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin, T.D. has presented four schools from around the country with the very first Yellow Flags, awarded for completing an innovative programme developed by the Irish Traveller Movement for schools to learn about and put into practice diversity and intercultural initiatives in the school and local community.

The awards mean the four schools in the Yellow Flag pilot programme, from Kerry, Limerick and Dublin will have their hard work and dedication to intercultural education recognised in a formal manner, and they will be the first in the country to have a Yellow Flag flying outside their school to recognise their commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Findings from the Yellow Flag research, conducted as part of the pilot programme show that the overwhelming majority of participating teachers (92 per cent) have never had anti-racism training.  The research highlighted a number of recommendations including:

·        Anti-racism and intercultural awareness training should form part of initial teacher education.

·        Regular and comprehensive training at in-service level on intercultural education matters should be provided, with a specific budget reserved for the support and development of this area.

·        An independent expert body should be established which can devise, deliver and accredit anti-racist and intercultural awareness training in an education context.

The findings echo the recent call from the teaching unions for schools to develop an anti-racism policy and point to the necessity for schools to do so in order to formalise best practice and have a comprehensive statement of intent on interculturalism.

Commenting on the Awards, Chairperson of the Irish Traveller Movement Jim O’Brien said: “As the Yellow Flag highlights, the Traveller community has much to contribute to the wealth of diverse experience that has always been evident in Irish society.  In recent years it has been felt that Traveller issues are often left out of the intercultural debate and even today, many young Travellers still feel the need to hide their identity and experience feelings of isolation and rejection in classrooms all over the country. 

“We felt it was important that the Irish Traveller Movement took the lead in developing an intercultural education model that would involve members of all communities in Ireland, including Travellers, and we hope that the Government will recognise the Yellow Flag Programme as a model of best practice in Intercultural Education and work in partnership with the ITM and key NGOs to ensure the project is mainstreamed in an effective and meaningful way.

The Yellow Flag Programme was introduced to develop a series of practical steps designed to bring issues of interculturalism and diversity into the whole school programme.  The steps range from developing an anti-racism policy to engaging with the local community.  Four schools from around Ireland were chosen to participate in the national pilot which focuses on practical achievements in the area, while also providing the framework for such achievements.

The four schools that received the inaugural Yellow Flags are:

Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Castaheany Educate Together National School, Dublin

Maria King Presentation Primary School, Limerick

St. Dominic’s Secondary School, Ballyfermot, Dublin