Citizenship education must be embedded in all state schools - Williams

12.00.00am GMT Thu 8th Mar 2007

Commenting on today's [Thursday] Education and Skills Select Committee report on citizenship education, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson and member of the committee, Stephen Williams MP said:

"A good citizenship programme gives children the opportunity to discuss topical, and even controversial, issues that will prepare them for full and active participation in life after school.

"School councils encourage pupil participation and can bring citizenship to life and should therefore be a part of every school.

"It's important that all of our state funded schools, including faith schools, use formal citizenship lessons to acquaint children, at the appropriate age, with some controversial issues that aren't covered elsewhere in the timetable.

"We live in the 21st century with different family structures, multi-faith communities and areas of social segregation. If Gordon Brown is serious about 'British values' then he must act to embed citizenship education in all our schools."