MP Mike Gapes receives a Going For Gold pack from pupils Manisha Farma (left) and Vidya Divakaran

Ilford MP and school pupils join forces to back global education

Alistair Kleebauer, Senior reporter Monday, July 2, 2012
5:18 PM

MP Mike Gapes and 140 girls from an Ilford school have joined forces to send out the message that education should be a global birthright.

MP Mike Gapes speaks to pupils at Park School during their assembly

The Labour MP for Ilford South is a supporter of the Send My Friend To School campaign which is also benefiting from the efforts of pupils at Park School for Girls in Park Avenue.

The campaign wants global leaders to lobby to ensure 67million children worldwide not receiving any education do so by 2015.

This year every pupil at the school made an Olympic-style medal complete with messages of support which they were able to hand over to the MP in person when he visited last week.

Mr Gapes said: “It was very good. They did a fantastic presentation.

“I have to say the British government, this one and last, are committed to providing education and health and getting children into education.”

The medals will be given to the Prime Minister.

Headteacher Elizabeth Gallagher said: “It’s ammunition, it’s like a petition. It’s taken to the next level.”

Pupils learned about the impact of education globally in citizenship lessons and incorporated a role play into their presentation to the MP, who made a speech.

Year 10 pupil Simran Dev described a video the pupils saw as part of the campaign.

She said: “The smiles that I saw were from some of the lucky ones.”

The school’s campaign work was organised by years 3 and 4 teacher Christina Clayden.