HC Deb 14 November 1989 vol 160 cc171-2
6. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the teaching of history within the national curriculum.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales are awaiting the final report of the national curriculum history working group, which they expect to receive by the end of the year. They will then publish their proposals for the history curriculum.

Mr. Marshall

Is my hon. Friend aware that the interim report of the working group was greeted with shock and dismay by the many who believe that the causes and history of the second world war should be part of the national curriculum? After all, 1940 was our finest hour; why is it too fine for the history mandarins?

Mrs. Rumbold

I can assure my hon. Friend that the proposals of the interim working group have been looked at again by the history working group, and that the final proposals will contain full programmes of study on all the units, so that such matters can be taken fully into account.

Mr. Janner

Will the Minister explain her previous answer? Does this mean that the national curriculum will contain the rise and fall of Nazism and the second world war?

Mrs. Rumbold

As I understand it, yes.

Sir John Stokes

Why cannot children be taught about England's heroes instead of vague subjects such as social trends?

Mrs. Rumbold

I have much sympathy with my hon. Friend's question. In our view, the facts of British history—the social, cultural and economic status of our history—are absolutely essential for all children who are studying the subject.

Mr. Straw

Will the Secretary of State ensure that the history syllabus is balanced, or shall we once again see the spectacle of education Ministers being rolled over by the Prime Minister and the advisers in the No. 10 policy unit who wish to turn the history syllabus into no more than a vehicle for the jingoistic, Right-wing indoctrination of our children?

Mrs. Rumbold

It is almost beneath the dignity of the Dispatch Box to answer that question. The history working group is advising my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The National Curriculum Council will be looking at that advice. When the council has fully consulted on the report of the history working group, my right hon. Friend will take advice from the National Curriculum Council. Balanced history will, of course, be taught in our schools.

Miss Emma Nicholson

Is the Minister aware that the current trend among Caribbean parents to send their children back to the parents' countries of origin for a decent education will no longer be necessary when the national curriculum, including the first-class teaching of genuine history, is in place?

Mrs. Rumbold

I am very much aware of that. That is exactly the purpose of having the national curriculum and of introducing sensible history teaching in our schools.