Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, recently visited St John’s Catholic Primary School to meet with Year 4, 5 and 6 students who had written her letters advocating for global access to education, inspired by Malala’s Magic Pencil, written by Malala Yousafzai – the renowned education activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The visit provided an opportunity for Mrs Hobhouse to listen to the students’ concerns and discuss the importance of education and political engagement.
The students, passionate about promoting educational rights for children worldwide, especially in countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, were excited to share their views. Wera reviewed the letters before her visit and commended the children for using their voices to champion an important cause.
The children engaged in a lively Q&A assembly session asking Wera everything from what pets she grew up with to why women and girls have historically been barred from education. Wera committed to raising their concerns in Parliament as part of her ongoing advocacy for global access to education and women’s rights.
Catharine Young, Deputy Headteacher of St John’s Catholic Primary School, said, “The children at St John’s Catholic Primary School, Bath are learning to be global citizens. As part of their focus on Catholic Social teaching, they are called to show solidarity with all and respect the dignity of each person. The children were moved to speak up and follow in Malala’s example to highlight the importance of access to education for all their sisters around the world.”
Wera Hobhouse commented, “It was inspiring to see such passion and empathy from young students at St John’s Catholic Primary School. Their understanding of the importance of education for every child, regardless of where they live, speaks volumes about their compassion and awareness.
“I am proud to bring their voices to Parliament and continue advocating for education rights globally. Meeting young people like these is a powerful reminder of the impact of young voices, and I look forward to supporting them in their journey. I’ve extended an invitation to the children to come and visit Parliament later in the year.”