Yellow Flag flies on northside
A school on the northside of Cork city has been recognised for its intercultural and anti-racism policy and activities.
North Monastery Co-educational Secondary School was recently awarded a Yellow Flag for the way it challenges racism and discrimination at the annual Yellow Flag Programme (YFP) Awards.
North Monastery joins 136 primary and post primary schools nationwide – reaching approximately 50,000 students and 5,000 teachers – which follow the Yellow Flag steps to embed inclusivity and diversity in practice and policy across the whole environment of teachers, pupils, parents and community.
Asked in what ways did anti-racism and inclusion policy supported the wider work of the school, Teacher Claire Dunlea said: “Our policy highlights our diversity and emphasises support for inclusion in the entire school community. By bringing attention to and celebrating this diversity – through language, celebrating traditions, finding out about various cultures, religious practices, festivals and how life is lived in the 46 different countries and ethnicities that make up our school community – knowledge and respect increases and racism, discrimination and exclusion decreases”.
Asked what are benefits of the YFP for the school in terms of challenging racism, student Tahir Khaksar said: “I feel when you know more about someone's country or background, you appreciate them more. It is really great to hear about other people's lives. These are real people in my class, or year not some random person on TikTok. When you hear real stories that can have a big impact on you and it challenges what you might have thought before”.
Speaking at the annual awards Yellow Flag Programme National Coordinator Sian Mooney congratulated the whole school community at North Monastery Co-educational Secondary School.
She also highlighted a survey of teachers the programme carried out, which showed that more than four in five (81%) of teachers had never attended intercultural or anti-racism training: “Government investment is needed to support teachers in responding to racism and to equip them with specific knowledge and skills in intercultural education”.
The awards ceremony was opened by the Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon who highlighted the critical role it plays: “It crucial that we invest in programmes like the Yellow Flag because it is an investment into a more stable and positive future – socially, educationally, economically and democratically.
It is very positive to see that so much of the work to create this programme is led by the students themselves.
“Having children and young people driving inclusion and anti-racism is the secret to changing society over the long term. By giving them an opportunity to lead on such an important subject they learn, very quickly, that they do have a voice and that voice can make a significant contribution to the wellbeing of their school and community.”