NORTH AFRICAN teachers are being offered an insight into education techniques in York as part of an international exchange programme.

Seven Moroccan teachers are spending a week in the city as part of the scheme, which aims to ease understanding across cultures.

The group is visiting schools and meeting teacher-training staff and students as part of the trip, organised by York St John College.

Programme co-ordinator Margot Brown, of the Centre for Global Education in York, said the project was one of a handful of international schemes operated by the York college.

She said: "It has allowed students and teachers from different cultures to develop a better understanding of Muslim and non-Muslim worlds, with the focus on human rights and the way we live day-to-day and teach our children."

The programme, which is supported by the British Council, facilitates exchanges between lecturers, teachers and teacher training students in a Muslim country with their counterparts in the UK.

It began last year when York primary school teachers and college staff visited Khmisset in Morocco. The group took part in an orientation programme in the capital, Rabat, and visited several partner schools.

Participants are expected to go back to their workplace with resources to help them develop school and teacher training as well as exchange letters and materials to give a more personal insight into another cultures.

The executive member for education, Coun Janet Looker, welcomed the visitors at a reception on Monday.

She said: "This visit is a marvellous opportunity to learn from one another.

"The teachers will be visiting York schools, giving children and staff the opportunity to learn about another culture."

Updated: 09:10 Wednesday, April 02, 2003