Seven schools have been awarded Yellow Flags for their efforts in promoting diversity and inclusivity in the classroom.
Built on an eight-step plan, the programme helps primary and secondary schools challenge racism and discrimination by implementing tools which encourage them to become more inclusive of all cultures and ethnicities.
Powerstown Educate Together National School, Tyrrelstown, Co Dublin, was one of the seven schools to attend today's award ceremony.
Teacher Aisling O'Neill believes that making sure every student feels welcome and represented is particularly important in a school as diverse as theirs.
"One of the things that we worked on was completing a survey with the parents, the teachers and the students to find out what areas we really needed to focus on.
" From that survey, we kind of figured out, okay, these are the points that are really important to our community, and we made an action plan based on that," said Ms O'Neill.
"We made sure to include speakers from different cultures and religions to come in and talk to the children in different classes about their religions, their cultures and their languages," she said.
According to a survey carried out by the Yellow Flag Programme, a quarter of post-primary students feel their ethnic or cultural identity is not reflected in their classroom and learning materials, with just over a third (34%) of pupils at primary level saying that they could see their culture and ethnic background celebrated around their school buildings.
As part of the programme, students are asked to form a Diversity Committee in order to build inclusivity and anti-racist school communities, as well as to learn about different cultures within their schools.
Pupils from Powerstown ETNS said that although inclusivity and diversity were always at the heart of their school, their new committee has improved it, as students are now "more respectful towards each other" - adding that their school now has "barely any racism".
Stressing the importance of promoting diversity and equality from a young age, Yellow Flag Programme National Coordinator, Sian Mooney, believes their programme helps to navigate the conversations in an age-appropriate way.
"We know that racism is happening, we know that there's discussions happening at home or at the table, out in the broader community, so it's really important that we're having discussions from a young age.
"Those values of anti-racism and social justice will follow with those students as they move through the school system," Ms Mooney said.
The Yellow Flag Programme is in its 16th year and supports 36 schools nationwide.
Survey finds 81% of teachers never attended anti-racism training
More than four-in-five of teachers say they have never attended intercultural or anti-racism training, according to the findings released by the Yellow Flag Programme.
The programme has supported 136 schools nationwide in achieving standards on interculturalism and anti-racism reaching.
Online surveys with teachers (426), parents/guardians (1,145), primary and post-primary students (1,921) formed part of its review work during the 2023-2025 programme cycle.
It found that a quarter of post-primary students felt their ethnic or cultural identity was not reflected in their classroom and learning materials.
At primary level just over a third (34%) of pupils said that they could see their culture and ethnic background celebrated around the school building.
Ms Mooney said the findings show the need to train and upskill teachers.
"Government investment is needed to support teachers in responding to racism and to equip them with specific knowledge and skills in intercultural education," she said.
The Yellow Flag Programme awarded seven schools at a ceremony in Dublin for their work to build inclusivity and anti-racist school communities.
They are:
- North Monastery Co-educational Secondary School, Cork city (post-primary, renewal school).
- Scoil Mhuire, Navan, Co Meath (primary, new school).
- Powerstown Educate Together National School, Tyrrelstown, Dublin (primary, new school).
- St Stephen's De La Salle Boys National School, Waterford city (primary, new school).
- Presentation Secondary School, Waterford city (post-primary, new school).
- Inver College, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan (post-primary, new school).
- Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip, Co Kildare (post-primary, new school)
The awards ceremony was opened by the Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon.
The programme has boosted teachers' confidence by raising awareness of the importance of incorporating multiculturalism into classroom activities, according to teacher Izabela Kozuch of Presentation Secondary School Waterford.
"The resources provided by Yellow Flag, along with encouragement to participate in events like Black History Month, Anti-Racism Month, and Culture Week, have been instrumental.
"The impact is clearly reflected in student testimonies, where students feel empowered to openly discuss diversity," she said.
Additional reporting: Ailbhe Conneely
