The education system is just a political football to promote political or social goals

Education. Education. Education. The opening lines of ten years of spin, let downs and failed policy from New Labour. A report published by Civitas today confirms that whilst this government has talked about education and pumped a load of extra money in to it, it doesn't follow that government interference is the best solution for getting the best out of our children. “The Corruption of the Curriculum” states "-The traditional subject areas have been hijacked to promote fashionable causes such as gender awareness, the environment and anti-racism, while teachers are expected to help to achieve the Government's social goals instead of imparting a body of academic knowledge to their students-." In fact the report is so damning it believes "-no major subject area has escaped the blight of political interference-."

In science, for example, pupils are being asked discuss issues such as global warming and GM crops, based on media coverage, and to consider whether or not scientists can be trusted - nothing to do with science in the traditional or even real sense at all. To demonstrate the minute detail to which Whitehall interferes with teaching, take Maths. The report states "-the teacher's timetable is now so minutely controlled by Whitehall that maths teachers are obliged to return to concepts such as fractions again and again in different years, without ever having the time to ensure that students can grasp them and move on-." It cites history as being taught without dates and from a politically correct perspective.

All this is leading to is education "apartheid", where those at independent schools more free from the plight of government interference are more likely to "get ahead" in life. For example, the report cites that future scientists will be even more likely to come from independent schools because the new GCSE courses will leave state pupils ill-quipped for further study. A department for education and skills spokesman has responded by saying "-It is insulting to the hard work of pupils and teachers to claim that the education system is just a political football to promote political or social goals-." no - the insult is aimed at you, now what are you going to do about it?