News
4 July 2008 - New Research Shows English Education Leaves 1 in 5 'Globally Illiterate'
1 in 5 English schoolchildren may be left 'globally illiterate' due to the failure to educate them about world events and equip them to live and work in a globalised world, according to groundbreaking new Ipsos MORI research for DEA. Despite Government aims to be 'world class', education is failing to prepare these children for the world they face, with 1 in 5 not discussing world problems or world events at school, regardless of proof of the positive effects this has. The research is released just ahead of the G8 summit to discuss major world issues such as climate change and development.
The research also shows that only 50% of young people believe that those from different backgrounds should live in the same country - a worrying finding, especially given that schools have had a statutory duty to promote community cohesion since September 2007.
Major questions are raised about the need for educational change to enable young people to be successful in the global future that they face, and about Government priorities related to this.
This marks the launch of DEA's groundbreaking programme of discussion and debate, Our global future: how can education meet the challenge of change? which will take place throughout 2008. (See also DEA's Questioning Education discussion paper.)
Key research findings include:
- 1 in 5 young people have not discussed news stories from around the world at school
- 1 in 5 have not discussed problems from around the world
- Only 50% of young people think it is a good idea to have people of different backgrounds living in the same country
- Global learning is an effective solution to these issues - those who experience global learning at school are more likely to be open to those from different backgrounds, to understand that they can do things to make the world a better place and that what they do in their daily lives can affect those in other countries.
Former Education Secretary David Blunkett will chair a high-level DEA summit at Westminster on 7 July which will bring together NGOs and educationalists to discuss the implications of the research.
Hetan Shah, Chief Executive of education charity DEA, said,
"The Government wants young people to have a 'world class' education but a key question is whether it is preparing them for the world. Ahead of the G8 meeting to discuss world issues, we need to face reality. An education system that leaves English children globally illiterate, without a basic understanding of world events or problems and intolerant towards those from different backgrounds is one that sets children up to fail.
"We know that employers are no longer interested in those with a 'little England' mentality and parents worry that their children need a wider set of skills for life. Our research shows that global learning helps young people to make sense of the world and their place in it. Now both Government and Opposition need to show a serious commitment to global learning for all children - building on the great work being done by some individual schools. We all want education to be 'world class' but if it leaves children with a narrow view of the world and other people then how can we hope them to succeed in the global future that they face?"
Further coverage:
- BBC website
- The Telegraph
- Guardian Education
- The Metro
- TES (see Friday 4 July edition)
- Radio 5 Live