Progress in education has stagnated. New Labour’s ‘education, education, education’ ethos has – understandably – been replaced with a focus on ‘economy, economy, economy.’ But the danger of this distraction is that our education system isn’t receiving the radical overhaul it urgently needs. Pupils still leave school knowing exactly how to calculate the area of a trapezium, but not how to use contraception effectively, how to deal with their emotions and mental health, how the world of work actually works or – significantly – sensible financial stewardship. We need a new set of 3 Rs if we’re to build a responsible society – relationships, respect and the real world.
Education – although still recognised as important – is no longer the vote-winning central election issue it once was. Peter Mitchell, education director of independent education foundation Edge, says: ‘Education has not come close to raising its head above the parapet of the general election… Blair’s ‘education, education, education’ speech makes it difficult for any party to put it at the centre of its campaign; so much so that we no longer have a government department with the word education in its title.’
They have tried to keep it on the down-low, but the Tory influence on bold new education initiatives in the run-up to the general election makes a mockery of their supposed new progressive, compassionate conservatism. They recently blocked a raft of new measures from going through, which included compulsory Personal, Social, Health and Economic education in schools – the exact kind of thing which is supposed to prepare young people for the real world.
This was an ominous move, suggesting Michael Gove would not support a more progressive education system if in power. Would he welcome the same mistakes made by those people who were educated under the milk-snatcher administration repeated in twenty years’ time because the next generation still knew more about speaking dead languages like Latin or the names of all Henry VIII’s wives than how to take responsibility for their own actions? If the Tories maintain a focus on compulsory academic education, but allow early opt-outs for sex and relationships education (SRE), the UK’s teenage pregnancy rates would not continue to fall, as they recently did. It’s high time we shifted the dubious title of Europe’s teenage pregnancy capital. And this will only happen through early compulsory SRE. If Britain truly is broken, the Tories have shot down one of the sanest solutions to fix it.
There is an encouraging movement to make the school experience as a whole more valuable for young people. Money saving expert Martin Lewis has teamed up with Mumsnet to launch a financial education petition. They want compulsory PSHE back on the political agenda so we learn the lessons of the recent financial crisis and break the cycle of massive debts in the UK. Martin Lewis says: ‘The modern UK has a nasty debt habit. As a nation, we’ve educated our youth into debt but never about debt.’
Labour has dedicated itself to ensuring the education experience from 0 – 18 is as well-rounded as possible – and available to people from all backgrounds. From Sure Start, to Alan Milburn’s recent Unleashing Aspiration report as part of the panel on fair access to the professions, Labour’s long term-goal clearly continues to be a valuable, practical education for the many, not the few. Labour’s policies reflect an understanding of the real world and a desire to impart that understanding to all our young people so they’re fully equipped once they leave the classroom.
As part of their real women campaign, Lib Dems Lynne Featherstone and Jo Swinson are campaigning for PSHE modules on body image and confidence, health and well-being, and media literacy to be taught in schools. Jo says: ‘Body image pressure is a serious and growing problem in our society, which can lead to low-self esteem and even serious eating disorders. It affects the mental and physical health and well-being of women, girls, men and boys.’
Future First is also doing some impressive work in preparing young people for the realities of the modern working world. It’s a grass roots initiative which is transforming the way young people receive their careers advice – from the much-derided multiple choice questionnaire which tells you your ideal vocation is a vet when you hate animals – to the far more effective route of professional alumni networks. Former students act as aspirational yet realistic role models who provide practical advice about future prospects.
A modern Britain deserves a modern education system which prepares pupils for the sometimes tough realities of the world beyond school. It cannot be left to the progress-supporting organisations to intervene on single issues or in certain schools. It’ll only come from a transformation in the curriculum where PSHE, SRE and decent careers’ advice is comprehensive, compulsory and consistent in all schools. If we want the next generation to know how to take responsibility for themselves, all our politicians need to take collective responsibility for a better school system, designed for the 21st century.