Pupils put PM on the spot

28 January 2009

TEENAGERS Lily King Taylor and Jenade Sharma had a premier experience - grilling Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The pair, who are students at East Ham's Langdon School, were invited to interview Mr Brown at No 10 Downing Street for the Global Campaign for Education.

This is a coalition of child-rights activists, teachers' unions and development organisations around the world who are united in their determination to make the right to education a reality.

Sixteen-year-old Lily and Jenade, 15, also interviewed Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg at Parliament for the same cause.

Mr Brown and Mr Clegg were questioned on a number of points, including why the number of children worldwide who do not attend school is not falling as fast as in previous years.

Lily and Jenade also asked the two politicians whether they think the campaign, and involvement by students like them, makes any difference to the number of children getting a chance to go to school.

Lily said: "Mr Brown gave us good answers to our questions. The Government have helped a lot of children into schools around the world. Nick Clegg is also a supporter of the Global Campaign for Education and promised help in any way he can."

Ambassadors

Full story from Tracey Church in this week's Recorder