Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 435: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the supports or incentives in addition to funding streams that have been put in place by her Department to facilitate student exchanges between Ireland and France for children between the ages of nine and 13 for the purposes of linguistic development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10550/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department provides funding for the operation of the European Union's Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland which includes the Comenius Action. Under Comenius, primary and post primary schools may become involved in a Comenius Partnership project. Schools in Ireland may link up with schools in France and other European countries and may select projects with the aim of improving language skills. Teachers and pupils may become involved in mobility activities to their partner countries.

The Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) 2007-2013 is the European Commission funded Education and Training Programme which will provide €6.9bn towards exchanges and activities in the field. Within LLP, the Comenius Programme focuses on the first phase of education (covering nursery, primary and secondary schooling ). It extends to all in the school education community, teachers, education staff and pupils while endeavouring also to involve organisations outside the school such as parents' associations, NGOs and local authorities. The following actions are supported by the Comenius Programme.

Comenius School Partnerships aim at enhancing the European dimension of education by promoting joint co-operation activities between schools in Europe. The projects give pupils and teachers in different countries an opportunity to work together on one or more topics of mutual interest. Some projects focus more on the active participation of pupils, while others concentrate on pedagogical or management issues and mainly involve teachers and administrative staff. Comenius school partnerships can also be oriented towards language learning e.g. by giving pupils the possibility to acquaint themselves with the language of a partner country.

School partnerships help pupils and teachers to acquire and improve skills not only in the topic or subject area on which the project is focused, but also in terms of teamwork, social relations, planning and undertaking project activities and using information and communication technologies (ICT). Participating in a partnership with schools from different countries also gives pupils and teachers the opportunity to practice foreign languages and increases their motivation towards language learning. Most partnerships must include schools from at least 3 countries eligible to participate in the Lifelong Learning Programme.