AQW 33769/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 17/10/2025
Answered On Date: 21/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the opportunities that exist for pupils to engage in hands-on repair or upcycling projects, as part of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.

Answer:

There are already many opportunities within the current Northern Ireland Curriculum to explore topics related to sustainability and reuse education through science and technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. It is a matter for individual schools to determine the resources or programmes they use to deliver this aspect of the curriculum.

The Eco-Schools programme also provides an ideal way for fostering environmental awareness in the entire school through links to many curriculum subjects. The primary aim of the Eco-Schools programme is to educate and empower young people to make positive decisions and become change makers for an environmentally sustainable world.

The Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment’s Sustainable Futures resources also provides structured guidance and progression frameworks to support teaching sustainability from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 3.