UN education report: Young people don’t think politicians listen to them

  • Reports submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) have found many young people in Northern Ireland do not think their politicians listen to them or take they views seriously.
  • The Children’s Law Centre said the reports demonstrated a widespread “regression in children’s rights” compared to the last time they were examined, 6 years ago.
  • The report highlighted a number of concerns in education, including that there was still no right for pupils to withdraw from collective worship.
  • Unlike schools in England and Wales, in Northern Ireland there is no right for older pupils to opt out of collective worship.
  • Concerns were also raised about the teaching of relationship and sex education (RSE) in schools, with the NGO Stakeholder report calling it “inadequate”.
  • For more, go to the BBC’s website.

Daily Mile boosts pupil fitness but not learning, says study

  • Many schools in Northern Ireland take part in the daily mile, this involves pupils taking a 15-minute break from the classroom to do some physical activity.
  • New Education Authority (EA) funded research by Ulster University (UU) has found that whilst getting school children to walk or run everyday increases their physical fitness, there is little evidence it improves their academic performance.
  • There was some evidence that it improved children’s wellbeing and self-esteem.
  • The researchers have said that “whilst initial results are promising, the long-term benefits are unclear”.
  • DR Gavin Breslin from UU who led the review has stated that more research needs to be carried out into its benefits.
  • For more on this story, please visit the BBC News website.

NI Charity set up to help families with disabled children in need runs out of money following surge in demand

  • Family Fund NI was set up to help families with disabled children across NI and has announced its funding had run out on Tuesday following a high surge in demand.
  • The charity supplies families in need with essential items such as computers, kitchen appliances, tablets and family breaks.
  • A spokesperson for the charity has said: “We are working hard to secure future funding to support you with the additional costs you face to raise your child, made even harder with the current cost of living crisis.”
  • For more on this story, please visit the News Letter’s website.