Curriculum to include ''core British values''

London, May 16 (UNI) As part of a drive to better integrate Muslims into society, compulsory classes on how ''core British values'' of democracy, freedom of speech, fairness and responsibility have developed down the centuries could be introduced into the national curriculum here.

Existing citizenship classes in secondary schools would be expanded to trace the origins of those values through key events in Britain's social and cultural history, Bill Rammell, the higher education minister, said yesterday. He announced a six-month review on how to take the proposals forward in a speech to the South Bank University.

Mr Rammell began work on ''how to promote mutual understanding'' last August as part of the Government's response to the July 7 London bombings. Yesterday, he also announced a review on how to improve teaching of Islam in British universities. Both reviews were designed to improve understanding of differing beliefs within a multi-cultural society.

If Muslims better understood the values underpinning British society, and non Muslim Britons realised that extremist ideas were not common among mainstream Muslims, mutual respect would be enhanced, he said.

At present there are three strands to compulsory citizenship classes: social and moral responsibility, which encourages pupils to act in a morally responsible way; community involvement, encouraging them to become "helpfully involved" in life in their neighbourhoods; and political literacy, teaching about public life, government institutions and democracy.

Mr Rammell said he wanted to consider a fourth strand to ''embed the British values of freedom, fairness, civic responsibility and democracy into the teaching of our cultural and social history.'' This would mean tracing the emergence of those values through British history.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, had mixed feelings about the plan. ''We do need to encourage discussion of what constitutes British values,'' he said.

''We do not want a government-imposed national curriculum on British values.'' Boris Johnson, the shadow higher education minister, said Mr Rammell was missing the point and should promote more lessons on the heroes of British history. ''It is not a question of teaching British values, it is a question of teaching British history. There is nothing exclusive or divisive in pointing out the fantastic achievements of the British people.'' UNI XC SB KN1715