Children in England will be taught how to spot extremist content and misinformation under changes proposed to the national curriculum, the education secretary has said.
Bridget Phillipson said a review of the curriculum in primary and secondary schools to introduce critical thinking would be launched to arm children against “putrid conspiracy theories”.
An example could include pupils analyzing newspaper articles in a way to help differentiate fabricated stories from factual reporting.
In computer lessons, students could also be taught how to spot fake news websites and maths lessons could include analysing statistics in context.
Keir Starmer poses the biggest threat to free speech we’ve seen in our history. pic.twitter.com/AB9cdiQtue
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) August 11, 2024
Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage has hit out at the proposal warning it could set a narrative for future generations that is “fundamentally undemocratic.”
Farage said: “There is a proposal today that from the age of five years old, our kids in schools should be taught to spot extremism, to spot fake news and misinformation, and to use their powers of critical thinking to work out what’s true and what’s not.
“Now, by the way, I believe in critical thinking. However, if the parameters that are set to say to every kid: ‘If you read a post that questions net zero and global warming, it will be extreme content and a lie. If you read a post that even dares to question levels of immigration, legal or illegal, into Britain, that’s extremist.’ Then you set a narrative for a future generation that is fundamentally undemocratic.
“So I am very worried that the instincts of a left-wing Labour Party are to use this crisis to take away our liberties and our free speech.”
Political commentator Matt Goodwin also waded in on the debate of children being given lessons on misinformation and how how to spot fake news.
Goodwin said: “We’ve also been told this week that our children, remarkably, will now be given lessons in how to identify “misinformation”, “spot extremist content”, and “fake news”.
“Enter the politically-biased teacher presenting everything from Brexit to opposing the small boats as “misinformation” and “extremist content”.
“What’s happening, in other words, is that Keir Starmer and Labour, who don’t forget worked overtime to try and overturn the democratic vote for Brexit, are about to use their enormous majority in the House of Commons to make sweeping changes that will undermine our freedoms, suppress our voice, and weaken our democracy.”
Speaking on the proposal, Goodwin asked who will determine what fake news and misinformation is and who will determine what is deemed “harmful.”
Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson said “it’s more important than ever” to give young people the skills to “challenge” what they see online
Getty
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Goodwin added: “Who, for that matter, will decide what our children are taught about “misinformation” and “fake news”? And why are we even clamping down on “legal but harmful” content in the first place?
“Personally, I suspect all this is just the start of a much bigger plan to shut down debate about issues the elite class does not want to discuss, or issues on which it holds very different views to those that are held by much of the country.”
Misinformation spread on social media about the background and religion of the suspect in the stabbing of three girls in Southport on July 29, which has been blamed for the subsequent rioting across parts of the UK.
Phillipson, the Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, said: “It’s more important than ever that we give young people the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge what they see online.
“That’s why our curriculum review will develop plans to embed critical skills in lessons to arm our children against the disinformation, fake news and putrid conspiracy theories awash on social media. Our renewed curriculum will always put high and rising standards in core subjects – that’s non-negotiable.
“But alongside this we will create a broad, knowledge-rich curriculum that widens access to cultural subjects and gives pupils the knowledge and skills they need to thrive at work and throughout life.”