Brussels, 18/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The “eTwinning” annual conference, an initiative developed by the European Commission in an effort to encourage schools create internet network partnerships, took place on 14-16 March in Bucharest. More than four hundred participants and teachers from all over Europe took part, as well as central and national service eTwinning support delegates and important school education players. At the event, Jan Figel, the Commissioner for education, training, culture and youth, awarded a prize to the eight best eTwinning projects for 2006-07. Three age categories were awarded prizes (4-10 years; 11-15 and 16-19), as well as a special category for sciences and mathematics. Over 400 project entries were assessed, based on their innovative nature, integration in the curriculum, collaboration, creativity and transferability. The top eight finalists came from 26 schools from 17 countries. The winning projects particularly highlight folklore and culinary specialities, mime and theatre, different religious expressions in a multicultural society, teaching maths simply and effectively, laws of physics in everyday life. Mr Figel stressed that, “With its virtual school partnerships, involving tens of thousands of European schools, eTwinning helps children familiarize themselves with computers, while at the same time breaking down barriers of ignorance that they may have about their fellow Europeans. In this European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, I particularly welcome this aspect of the eTwinning experience."
Since the launch of eTwinning action in January 2005, over 35,000 schools across Europe have joined in. The action is now part of the Comenius programme, which involves tackling needs in teaching and the acquisition of knowledge in pre-school and school education right up to the end of upper secondary school level. (I.L.)