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Burns Day 2010
25/01/2010
Burns Day 2010 is celebrated by First Minister Alex Salmond and Education Secretary Michael Russell in a special anniversary video made with the children of Braehead Primary School in Stirling.
The FM will be at Cults Academy in Aberdeen today while Children's and Early Years Minister Adam Ingram will be visiting two Prestwick primary schools in the heart of Burns country
The first is Kingcase Primary School Nursery Class where pupils will perform a selection of traditional songs and poems to mark the occasion and then St Ninian's Primary School where the entire school, from nursery to P7 will take part in a series of performances, including singing, poetry recital and country dancing.
Mr Ingram said:
"I am delighted to be in Burns' Ayrshire heartland today with youngsters who will shape our nation's future as they learn about a man who played such an important part in our past. The hard work pupils at Kingcase and St Ninian's have put into these celebrations demonstrates not only the pride they take in their national poet but also the joy that can be gained from a varied curriculum and innovative ways of learning.
"I am particularly pleased to see pupils getting the chance to experience innovative project work at the start of what will be an important year for Scottish education as Curriculum for Excellence is introduced in schools and nurseries across the country.
"It is testament to the power and genius of Robert Burns that words written in the late 18th century can be so relevant and useful in preparing Scotland's pupils for the challenges of the early 21st century."
In the video, the FM says:
"Robert Burns has captured the imagination of generations of people throughout the world.
"Over the next few weeks his birthday will be celebrated across five continents in the four corners of the earth.
"It's important that on the 251st anniversary of the Bards' birth that we reflect on the immense contribution that the poet has made and continues to make in shaping Scottish culture and promoting Scotland to an international audience.
"Our Year of Homecoming was a fantastic national and international celebration of Burns and Scotland's contributions to the world. It really solidified Scotland's global reputation - we may be a small country but we make a giant contribution in shaping science, innovation, energy, technology and culture. To reinforce our continuing success as a world leader in these fields it's important that we reflect on these achievements.
"On this Burns Day I would encourage people 'the world o'er' to join Scotland in these unique celebrations of our greatest national cultural icon and our greatest international cultural contribution."
Mr Russell says:
"Robert Burns and his vast canon of work remain hugely important and influential to Scotland's language, culture, heritage, and of course, education. The works of our great Bard are enjoyed by many and recognised throughout the world.
"Bringing Burns into our classrooms is as valuable today as it was a quarter of a century ago. The curriculum for excellence we have introduced includes examples of writing by Scottish authors which relate to the history, heritage and culture of Scotland - Robert Burns is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of this.
"The pupils from Braehead Primary in Stirling gave an excellent recital of To A Mouse. They are just one of thousands of schools across Scotland that are celebrating the greatness of the man and the genius of his works today."