Parliamentary Recognition For New Deer School

A Buchan primary school has received Parliamentary recognition after winning a Scotland wide competition to promote the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals.

Pupils at New Deer School produced a Milennium Development DVD which netted them a £400 prize and winners’ certificate in the EthCo Challenge 2011.

Local MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford, who is the SNP's international development spokesperson, visited the school recently to congratulate the pupils and view their award winning DVD.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

“I very much enjoyed my visit to New Deer School and I was delighted to learn about the efforts of the children in the EthCo Challenge and their success.

“Around 67 million children around the world are missing out on primary education, the majority of them girls, so to see local primary school pupils doing their bit to raise awareness about these inequalities is very heartening. I think these sorts of projects are important in helping us here in Scotland to become good global citizens.

“The pupils are very proud of their award and they, and their teachers, are to be congratulated on their success.”

The wording of the Early Day Motion in the House of Commons reads:

That this House congratulates the pupils of New Deer Primary School and Whitehills Primary School on winning the EthCo Challenge 2011 to promote understanding of the Millennium Development Goals; notes that 67 million children worldwide, a majority of them girls, are missing primary school education; recognises the crucial importance of education in tackling the causes of global poverty and inequality; and calls on the Government to make education central to its international development strategy and improve educational opportunities for girls.