Britishness and citizenship

25 January 2007

Commenting on the Alan Johnson’s launch of Sir Keith Ajegbo’s report on teaching citizenship and diversity, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Britain’s largest teachers’ union said:

“British history is laced with struggles to replace prejudice and bigotry with tolerance and respect. There is every argument for teaching the core values behind these struggles as well as the historical facts.

“But simply seeking a change in the curriculum is not enough. The Government should target all disadvantaged groups including white working class and African Caribbean youngsters with additional support and resources.

“While I welcome Alan Johnson’s recognition that schools can be a powerful force in creating community cohesion he should reflect on the impact of recent education legislation which has created a divisive range of different types of school which undermine community cohesion.

“Allan Johnson is the Secretary of State for Education not for Britain, but only for England.

“I call upon the government to invite the separate education jurisdictions in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to create a United Kingdom council for education to provide a forum for distilling best practice in creating community cohesion.”