THE next generation of teachers in Northern Ireland have been taking part in a programme to highlight world justice issues.
St Mary's University College has teamed up with Trócaire to help student teachers learn about the issues facing millions of people in the world’s developing countries.
The charity delivered a workshop in a bid to "teach our future global citizens to make informed decisions and contribute to a just and fairer world".
Laura Rio Fernandez from Trócaire said: "Educating people here at home around the structural causes of poverty and injustice is a crucial part of what Trócaire does and our development education work is a key way of achieving this.
"Trócaire and St Mary's University College have a long-standing relationship and it was fantastic to be able to deliver this workshop for the students.
"The workshop was part of the college’s 'world around us' classes.
"Students learn about global justice issues facing the world today. They discuss development education, the sustainable development goals and their role as teachers to create a better and fairer world.
"During the session, we discussed good practices in development education and what knowledge, skills and values they would need to teach our future global citizens to make informed decisions and contribute to a just and fairer world."
Student Aine Devine, who took part in the workshop, said it was "extremely valuable and informative and I look forwarding to implementing all I have learnt in the classroom".
"As future educators and student teachers, we have a duty to ensure that our pupils grow to become contributors to society, the environment and make informed decisions throughout their life," she said.
"From the Trócaire workshop and our ‘world around us’ lectures in college, I am now aware of the skills, knowledge and understanding that I will need to teach global justice issues in an active and child-friendly way while achieving the aims of the NI curriculum."
Lecturer Tracey McKay said: "This event was part of a really valuable partnership between St Mary’s and Trócaire, which is based on a shared ethos and commitment to social justice and a determination to work for a fairer and better world."
