 The scheme has been piloted across Scotland |
School children are being enlisted in the fight to remove sectarianism from Scottish society. A new online and classroom-based education package has been launched along with a series of training seminars for teachers.
The Don't Give it, Don't Take It campaign packs will be sent to every school in the country.
First Minister Jack McConnell insisted progress was being made in stamping out religious hatred.
He said: "We have new laws to punish crimes fuelled by bigotry and we have seen strong action by the Old Firm and other clubs to tackle sectarian attitudes.
"But Scotland will never be free of the shackles of sectarianism unless we teach our youngsters that bigotry is wrong.
"They carry the future of Scotland in their hands, and it is up to all of us - politicians, parents, sporting heroes and teachers - to help children understand that there is no place for bigotry or sectarianism in modern Scotland."
Mr McConnell met with teachers and pupils from Woodlands Primary School and St Margaret of Scotland Primary School in Glasgow, who took part in the pilot for the scheme.
Annette Carmichael, headteacher of Woodlands, and Anne-Marie Bready, headteacher of St Margaret of Scotland, said: "The children from both schools worked very well together and we received positive feedback from all involved, parents pupils and staff.
"We believe that we have begun to change attitudes and that this will have a lasting effect on our children."
 The pack covers all areas of religion and education |
The website is designed to provide guidance, interactive resources and good practice examples to help schools develop anti-sectarian work.
The package also includes local seminars to raise awareness of sectarianism among teachers and youth workers and a DVD to support drama-based work.
It will be followed by a national conference in June.
The ministerial group on tackling sectarianism also met for the first time on Monday.
The group, set up at the recent summit on sectarianism, will play a key role in the development of a national action plan to tackle the problem.
The package was developed by a consortium led by the Centre for Education and Racial Equality Scotland along with organisations including the Church of Scotland, the Roman Catholic Church and Celtic and Rangers football clubs.
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It is up to all of us - politicians, parents, sporting heroes and teachers - to help children understand that there is no place for bigotry
