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British Values Classes ConsideredMon, May 15, 2006Source: BBCThe government is to review whether "core British values" should become a compulsory part of the curriculum for all 11 to 16-year-olds in England.Some Muslims say they feel alienated in the UK Education minister Bill Rammell says both reviews are part of the response to last July's London bombings. The government is aiming to adapt citizenship classes in schools to create a more cohesive society. Freedom and fairness The six month-long schools review will ask how all children can develop a strong sense of British identity by learning about Britain's culture and traditions, including the contributions from different communities. In a speech on Monday at South Bank University, Mr Rammell will say the Islam review follows nine months of conversations with Muslim students about their grievances in education. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is a need for a debate and the essential values already taught in citizenship classes, like freedom, fairness, civil responsibilities, democracy are there. "But they are not developed and understood in the way they developed in terms of Britain's cultural and social history." The UK is multicultural but there needs to be a debate about the things shared by all communities, which bind society together, he added. Education could combat discrimination against Muslims and help tackle the minority of extremists on the fringes, he is expected to say in his speech. Speaking on Today, the Labour MEP Claude Moraes, who wrote a report for the EU on integration and citizenship, said it was difficult to say what exactly "core British values" were. "People say things like fair play and so on but then realise that those things could be attributed to other European countries as well." He said it was a good idea in principle, but would fail if it became too proscriptive. |