Foster awards green eco-flag to Belfast primary school

Environment Minister Arlene Foster has awarded Cairnshill Primary School, Belfast a Permanent Green Flag from the International Eco-Schools programme.

The Minister noted that this was the twentieth such award to be made to Northern Ireland schools under the International Eco-Schools programme and means that Northern Ireland award winning schools lead the UK.

The Minister praised the Eco-Committee on taking a practical and action-oriented commitment to a better environment and said:

“Helping to make that link between what students learn in their daily lessons and the environment goes a long way in cultivating that life-long pro-environment attitude where care and concern for the environment comes from the heart.

“Today’s young people have a huge responsibility for the environment, as we all do. There is no doubt that there is an unprecedented level of awareness of environmental issues, and this can only be good. I commend the hard work and foresight of all who have worked hard to win this prestigious award at Cairnshill and the other award winning schools in Northern Ireland.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Belfast school was praised by Eco-Schools assessors for effectively managing their local environment. The assessment said that Cairnshill was a well-established Eco-School whose success was due to excellent continual monitoring and improvement of activities and resources as well as inclusion of all staff and children.
2. Eco-Schools is part-funded in Northern Ireland by Environment and Heritage Service. It is the internationally recognised programme for Education for Sustainable Development and is run in 36 countries throughout the world. It is organised internationally by FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) and managed here in Northern Ireland by TIDY Northern Ireland, who organised today’s event.
3. For media enquiries contact DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0003 or out-of-hours call the Duty Press Officer 07699 715440.