Alastair Campbell backs citizenship education campaign

Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell has come out in support of citizenship education.

With Conservative education minister Michael Gove having pledged to ’slim down’ the list of core subjects as part of his curriculum review, the future of citizenship is in doubt.

But Tony Blair’s former communications chief has responded by penning a defence of the subject for Democratic Life – the campaign to protect citizenship education.

He warns that scrapping the subject would be “yet another mistake” for Michael Gove before outlining the importance of teaching young people about politics.

“We should do more to teach youngsters from primary school onwards – positively – that politics is a fundamental part of their lives,” he said.

“We should also do more to encourage an interest in world and current affairs.”

The former spin doctor, famed for his no-nonsense attitude to dealing with the press, also aimed criticism at the effect media reports have on young people’s attitude to politics.

“Most of the media spends much of its energies giving people reasons to be cynical rather than hopeful about the power of politics to make change for the better,” he said.

“That might be why citizenship education comes in for so much criticism.”

Members of the public can offer their views on the subject by responding to the National Curriculum review call for evidence.

Ministers will then announce their decision on which subjects will be compulsory in spring 2012.

Citizenship is currently optional at primary school level and mandatory for pupils in secondary schools.