Parliamentary News Release
068/2004
26 October 2004
EDUCATION CENTRE OPENS TODAY AT HOLYROOD
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| Deputy Presiding Officer Murray Tosh pictured centre with Susan Deacon MSP and Kenny MacAskill MSP and pupils from Holy Rood High school. |
Members of pupil councils from Royal Mile Primary and Holy Rood High were today the first to visit the newly opened Education Centre at the Scottish Parliament. They were welcomed to Holyrood by the Deputy Presiding Officer, Murray Tosh, who introduced the event.
Local MSPs also came along to meet the group as part of the official launch of Parliament's programme of school visits. Following an informal discussion about the Parliament with Members, the young people were given a tour of the building and were shown some of the facilities on offer for school groups.
The education visits programme is now fully booked until the end of June 2005. Nearly 9000 young people will take part in almost 300 groups. Bookings for the 2005 – 06 session will start to be taken in the summer term 2005.
Deputy Presiding Officer Murray Tosh said:
“Bringing young people into Holyrood and showing them how Parliament works is one of the most rewarding parts of our work. And from 1999 onwards, the level of interest in the Parliament's education service has been immense.
“Even though Holyrood can accommodate twice as many school visits as our temporary home on the Mound, all our places are booked up until June 2005. That is a hugely encouraging response from Scotland 's schools.”
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| Pupils from Royal Mile Primary School |
Ten-year-old Sacha Hamilton, a P6 pupil at Royal Mile Primary, enjoyed her first visit to parliament with her classmates.
She said: "I think it's important that we are able to come and see it and find out about it, because if we don't, when we're a bit older, we're going to wonder 'why was it built?'"
And Ross Walker, 17, an S6 pupil from Holyrood High, agreed it was important for young people to understand how important issues, such as decision-making, affect everyone.
He said: "Not everyone is interested in politics, but it's great to come here and learn how things are done. I've found out today that a lot of what happens is very similar to the pupil council work we do in school. And of course, it's a stunning building with lots to look at."
Background
Those visiting today were:
• Fifteen S2 - S6 pupils from the Holy Rood High pupil council executive committee.
• Ten P3 - P7 from Royal Mile Primary pupil council.
The Education service at Holyrood will be able to accommodate twelve school visits per week compared with only six per week at the Mound. Four visits will take place per day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday.
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