THE P6 children of Ballynahinch Primary School have been praised at Stormont for running a “fantastic road safety campaign”.
Strangford Alliance MLA Nick Mathison paid tribute to the local pupils and their teacher Sharon Kirkland during an Assembly session last Monday (24 June).
“The class took the opportunity to write a really persuasive letter to every local representative about how unsafe the area outside the school is,” he told the chamber.
“I had the opportunity to meet that class and its teacher.
“The enthusiasm for engagement with the issue and with their local reps was obvious.
“It was inspirational to see what can be done when a group of schoolchildren is given the motivation and enthusiasm to engage in the democratic process.”
Mr Mathison added that he had been pleased to advise the children that both the Education Authority and the Department for Infrastructure had “agreed to take on board their concerns”.
“They have approved the reinstatement of a school crossing patrol outside the school, and agreed to add a pedestrian crossing to their programme of works for the year ahead,” he said.
“The class is delighted with that.
“It is important to pay tribute to the teaching staff in the school for getting the kids so engaged on the issue.
“More widely, it also shows what we can do in schools when we engage children and young people in writing for a purpose – not written exercises that exist in a vacuum but writing that has an outworking in the real world on an issue that makes a difference to them.
“I put on record my appreciation of the work that Ballynahinch Primary School and the team there have done, and, particularly, of Mrs Kirkland’s P6 class for the amazing outcome that it has achieved.”
The MLA recently visited the school with his party colleague, Rowallane councillor David Lee-Surginor, who stated that he had been “so impressed with the work of the children on this campaign”.
“It is a great example of what can be achieved when children and young people use their voices and engage on the issues that matter to them,” he added.
“They deserve great credit for their effective campaign.”