§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for citizenship classes. [134726]
§ Jacqui SmithCitizenship education will be part of the National Curriculum for secondary schools from August 2002. It follows the recommendation of the all-party288W working party chaired by Prof. Bernard Crick and including Lord Baker in its membership. Citizenship is designed to improve the knowledge and understanding of our democracy among young people, to make them aware of their social and moral responsibilities and to encourage greater community involvement. We have made £12 million available to schools this year through the Standards Fund to assist them in their preparations for Citizenship. This will be sustained next year.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if his proposed citizenship classes will be subject to a requirement of political impartiality. [134925]
§ Jacqui SmithCitizenship education will be subject to the same requirements of political impartiality as other areas of the curriculum. There are safeguards in law to guard against biased or unbalanced teaching. Local education authorities, governing bodies and head teachers are required under Section 407 of the Education Act 1996 to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils, they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views. The introduction of citizenship was proposed by the Citizenship Education Working Party that included Lord Baker, the former education secretary.