§ 44. Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department will take steps to ensure that school curricula give due weight to the importance of wealth creation and enterprise.
§ Mr. TrippierThe responsibility for school curricula rests with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as the local education authorities, and individual schools. My Department's industry-education unit has, however, been responsible for a number of initiatives designed to improve young people's understanding of the wealth creation process.
We have to this end strongly supported the schools curriculum industry project, which, through a network of co-ordinators in England and Wales, encourages curriculum developments, with the aim of creating wider understanding of industry and wealth creation in schools.
We have encouraged industry-education activities by supporting local and national projects and working closely with a number of agencies and link bodies. We have provided resource materials for use in schools (for example the video series "Foundations of Wealth"); and sponsored conferences (for example the Careers Research and Advisory Centre conference "Education for Enterprise" in 1984).
We have set ourselves four specific targets for Industry Year 1986: every secondary school to have links with at least one industrialist or commercial company; every secondary school to have its own mini-company; every LEA to have an individual or body with clear responsibility for promoting school industry links; and every LEA to introduce technology as an examinable subject. Many of these activities are joint initiatives with industry, other Government Departments, and others active in this area.
We are also giving increasing priority to the development of entrepreneurial attitudes among young people.