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Edinburgh school pupils may be banned from attending future "school strike" climate change protests, amid plans to limit such demonstrations to one day a year.

Pupils from across the capital staged protests in March and May this year, joining of global movement inspired by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

Pupils who took part in the early demonstrations did not face punishment for skipping school as long as they had permission from a parent or gurdian.

However a report which will be considered at Edinburgh city council's education committee this week suggests a tougher line may be adopted in future.

The report says the latest legal position and guidance on school strikes is "that children must be encouraged to attend school and that children should be supported to express their views in ways that will support, not diminish their attendance and attainment."

A motion from education convener Ian Perry said pupils would be encouraged to take part in climate change initiatives inside school.

His motion says: "Notwithstanding the information contained within the report, Committee acknowledges the benefits of children taking part in demonstrations and marches which highlight climate change and the detrimental effect on our future environment.

"Given the general party political consensus on the need to tackle climate change, Committee therefore agrees to authorise a single day of action per year for those pupils who wish to take part.

"The pupil’s absence will only be considered authorised with parental consent which will be required to be sent to the school, in writing, in advance of any absence. Where consent is provided, the school is absolved of any responsibility for that pupil during the day of action.

"Any other absences in relation to climate change will be recorded by the school as unauthorised."

'Tiny part of the school year'

However the city's Scottish Green party group has said that a single day of strike action does not go far enough.

Green councillor Steve Burgess said: " The climate emergency is an issue like no other. The young people taking part in climate action recognise that it will define their future lives which is why they have been leading from the front and pushing politicians from Scotland’s First Minister and across the world to do more.

"So now is absolutely not the right time to be preventing young people from taking part in climate strikes.

"So far, over the last six months, that has amounted to two Friday mornings and Greens will be bringing a proposal to allow school students to support the climate strike on 20 September in the run up the United Nations Emergency Climate Change summit on 23 September.

"That is a tiny part of the school year and entirely in line with the values which schools are meant to endorse such as listening to young people and celebrating citizenship.

"The council should be proud that it was one of the first to support climate strikers and should continue in that vein."

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