DFID’s work with schools and young people
Do you want children and young people in your school to learn more about international development?
Find out more here about how we can help you bring a global dimension into your school.
Shape the World
In the year 2000 the World agreed a set of goals known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs set targets for improving the lives of the world poorest people – for example, halving the number of people in the world that live on less than $1 a day and making sure that all children have the opportunity to go to school. The aim is that these goals will be achieved by 2015.
Now global leaders have begun thinking about what the next set of goals should be. Prime Minister David Cameron is co-chair of a High Level Panel that is looking at this very question – and he wants to hear your views! We are inviting all schools to take part in the ‘Shape the World’ Challenge, Five finalists will get to come to the DFID headquarters in London and present their ideas to our own High Level Panel which wil include the Secretary of State for International Development, Rt Hon Justine Greening MP. The winning team will then get the chance to work on a special project with Oxfam to find out how the work of a NGO like Oxfam links to the MDGs. This will involve visiting some of the Oxfam installations around the country and interviewing staff about their work in order to produce a video diary that will be posted on the Global Dimension website for all schools to access. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered.
To find out more about how your school can get involved visit: Global Dimension
School programmes
Connecting Classrooms is designed to enable primary and secondary schools in the UK set up links with schools in the developing world. Connecting Classrooms is funded by DFID and the British Council and it supports primary and secondary schools in the UK to set up links with schools in over 50 countries around the world. Professional development for teachers and resources for schools are also offered.to help schools use their link to teach pupils about global issues.
The Connecting Classrooms programme replaces DFID’s Global School Partnerships Programme, through which thousands of UK schools have already formed links around the world.
The Global Learning Programme is also for primary and secondary schools and is designed to ensure that more school leavers have a thorough knowledge and understanding of developing countries, the basic elements of globalisation and different ways of reducing global poverty. The programme will also identify ways that learning about global and development themes can contribute to school improvement, and will provide accreditation opportunities for schools.
The programme will include the following elements:
- Provision of support for schools to have a lead practitioner in development education.
- Accredited programme of professional development for teachers
- Subject specific support and whole school opportunities.
- A website including resources, guidance for schools and information on where and how teachers can get support.
Teaching resources
Teachers have access to an extensive archive of resources at the Global Dimension website. From climate change to poverty, water to fair trade, there is a huge range of material available.
School Leavers
If you have left or are about to leave school and are aged 18-25 you should check out International Citizen Service – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young people to work as a volunteer on a development programme overseas. You can find put more and apply at www.ics-uk.org.uk
Further professional development
If you have a wider interest in the methodology of development education, an extensive body of research is held by the Development Education Research Centre at the University of London where you can also study for a Masters in Development Education.