PUPILS from Burnholme Community College in York celebrated the launch of the new citizenship curriculum, which has been implemented in schools across the city.

The event coincided with the official government launch of the subject in London.

Citizenship is already taught in primary schools, but was made compulsory for 11 to 16-year-olds from September 2. It is the first new subject to be included in the national curriculum since its launch in 1988.

It will cover a broad spectrum of subjects including political literacy, rights and responsibilities, social and moral responsibility and community involvement.

It will be taught in three sections which include social and moral responsibility, community involvement and political literacy.

More than 100 pupils attended the event at the college along with York MP Hugh Bayley who led a session about differing perspectives of citizenship.

He said: "People fought hard for their citizenship rights: free universal education, a free press and free speech, the right to vote, the right to peaceful protest, state support for those unable to look after themselves, to name but a few.

"But we have an obligation to keep these rights alive both for ourselves and for future citizens.

"People don't realise how valuable these rights are until they no longer have them."

The event was organised by the college and the Democracy Through Citizenship project which will work with York schools to develop the curriculum.

The project was commissioned and funded by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and is managed by the Institute for Citizenship.

The project director of Democracy Through Citizenship, Bernard Flanagan, said: "The launch of citizenship in schools gives a wonderful opportunity for young people to become fully involved in their community and have a say about issues that affect them."

The executive member for community safety and local affairs with City of York Council, Coun Bob Scrase, said: "Living in a democracy means participation. The more participation, the better our democracy will be. I warmly welcome this project and hope that everyone in our community will take part and learn more about how 'the system' works."

Updated: 09:26 Wednesday, October 02, 2002