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Connecting Classrooms builds lasting partnerships between groups of schools in the UK and in over 60 countries around the world.
Through these partnerships, the programme develops understanding and trust between young people in different societies, creating a safer and more connected world for the future.
The aim of the programme is to achieve culturally inclusive schools. It was designed in consultation with education bodies, practitioners and policy makers around the world.
Connecting Classrooms is currently available in 20 countries across Europe. The project will commenced in Malta in September 2010 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family. Nine Maltese schools were involved. the project was concluded in May 2013.
Connecting Classrooms was concluded with a symposium on 10 May 2013 at St. Benedict College, Boys’ Secondary in Kirkop. Watch a video about this event.
The participating schools were:
St. Aloysius’ College, Birkirkara
St. Benedict College, Boys’ Secondary, Kirkop
St. Edward’s College, Cottonera
St. Elias College, Sta Venera
San Gorg Preca College, Girls' Junior Lyceum, Blata l-Bajda
St. Margaret College, Boys’ Secondary, Verdala
Maria Regina College, Girls' Secondary, Mosta
Stella Maris College, Gzira
St. Thomas More College, Girls' Secondary School, Sta Lucia.
All schools involved in Connecting Classrooms:
- work with partner schools on collaborative curriculum projects, which enable learners to interact across geographical boundaries to enhance their understanding of each other’s societies, languages and cultures.
- receive professional development for teachers and school leaders, which builds capacity to support international partnerships and to lead the school in an international environment.
- are supported to work towards full International School Award accreditation, which recognises the school’s commitment to forming international partnerships and developing global citizens.
- become part of a global online community that enables teachers to network with one another in a range of teacher forums, and offers guidance in the use of ICT tools that develop and sustain partnerships.
In March 2011, ten Maltese teachers (one from each participating school) and a representative from the Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family attended the International Coordinators’ course in Cyprus. The meeting was hosted by the British Council in Cyprus and the Cypriot educational authorities.
The purpose of the course was to equip the Connecting Classrooms coordinators with skills to run the project in-country, acquire Project Management skills, discuss and develop the school projects with teachers from other cluster countries and also visit Cypriot schools and learn about the educational system in Cyprus.
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In March 2011 over 100 Maltese students participated in a two-day Young Leaders’ training course at St Ignatius College Girls Junior Lyceum in Blata l-Bajda.
Connecting Classrooms project gives priority to young people and ensures that their voice, and through them the voice of their communities, is heard and taken into consideration at all levels of the project.
The Young Leaders’ course trained students in leadership, cultural awareness and global citizenship and gave them the opportunity to participate in planning the school projects for the next scholastic year.
In Connecting Classrooms young people are involved at all levels of school project structures and their voice will inform decision making and delivery of these projects and the responses to Connecting Classrooms from their schools and education authorities.
Leaders - Starting Them Young by Marika Azzopardi (published in The Sunday Times of Malta on 24 April 2011).
British Council has surveyed more than 3,000 students from 18 European countries. In this unique research, students from 10 Maltese schools that are participating in the Connecting Classrooms project presented their views and feelings about the world today.
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Find out more about the project
Watch the videos of Young Leaders' training
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