The UK Education Secretary has hit out at political “brainwashing” and “indoctrination” in the British school system, urging schools to root out activist teachers.
The comments were made by Conservative MP Nadhim Zawahi, who published an open letter criticising some of the practices currently taking place in classrooms.
“While there is a clear need for schools to address political issues in the classroom from time to time, this must not be done in a partisan way,” he said.
“No school should be encouraging young people to pin their colours to a particular political mast. As the Secretary of State for Education, I want to make sure that each and every child is given the opportunity to come to their own opinions without being swayed by what others think.”
He added: “Children need to form their own views at the same time as they learn to respect those of others…This is how we prepare young people to take their place as a well-balanced and tolerant member of society.”
The comments come after a UK primary school was accused of encouraging students as young as 10 years old to write essays criticising UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10494787/Nadhim-Zahawi-slams-Nottingham-school-told-pupils-criticise-Boris-Johnson-Partygate.html
Additionally, another UK primary school reportedly banned meat from the school cafeteria in an effort to combat climate change, encouraging parents to give their children veggie packed lunches.
UK primary school only providing veggie lunches to stop climate change
Closer to home, in Ireland, last year saw a case of a Meath secondary school which, for non-uniform day, encouraged students to wear “pride” colours representing bisexual, transgender, non-binary, demisexual, and genderfluid identities, leading some parents to express their discomfort.
Meath school encourages students to wear genderfluid pride colours