A CONFERENCE is being held in Sunderland on how to teach the city's school children how to be good citizens.

The event, which began yesterday and continues today at the Stadium of Light, addresses the introduction of citizenship lessons in secondary schools in September.

Titus Alexander, author of Citizenship Schools, is the keynote speaker, and children from 60 primary and secondary schools in the city have been invited to attend.

Council education advisor Margaret Ferrie said: "Studying citizenship will be compulsory in secondary schools from September, this year, but we have already made great strides in Sunderland to introduce it into the classrooms as something for youngsters to discuss and focus upon as part of their own development.

"The conference is an opportunity for us all to get together and discuss how best to make citizenship a top priority in schools and share the kind of good practice already introduced across the city.

"Our future depends upon today's young people recognising their roles and responsibilities as good neighbours, good citizens - positive members of their local, national and global communities.

"Young people are just 25 per cent of the population but represent 100 per cent of the future.

"The key issues at this week's conference are creating a climate and framework within schools to allow youngsters their say through legitimate consultation to develop their participation, increasing their sense of empowerment and responsibility within both the school community and Sunderland as a whole.''

Citizenship has already been promoted with initiatives such as Healthy Schools, the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and the city's partnership with Sunderland Football Club, which rewards good behaviour and school attendance.

During the conference there will be workshops to enable teachers, pupils and parents to consider how best to promote the subject as part of the National Curriculum.