Schoolchildren to learn about child labour and fair trade

ALMOST half a million school children are to study controversial issues like child labour in the third world coffee-growing sector as part of a new programme spearheaded by teachers.

In preparation for the programme, due to be launched in 3,200 primary schools next November, primary teachers in Cork, Dublin and Co Westmeath will this summer study the conditions endured by child workers in the coffee-growing industry in Nicaragua, as part of a series of courses run by their union.

The five-day course, “Introducing Fair Trade, Child Labour and the Right To Education into the Classroom”, is the first of its kind organised by the Irish National Teachers Organisation. It runs in Kinsale, itself a Fair Trade Town, from July 2nd-6th next as well as in Dublin and Mullingar.