Slavery lessons planned for all pupils

LONDON, Feb 3 (Reuters) Britain's 300-year role in the world's slave trade will be taught to all children for the first time as part of planned reforms to be outlined on Monday.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson wants every pupil aged between 11 and 16 to study slavery, the Commonwealth and the legacy of the Empire to help understand ''Britishness''.

A debate over what it means to be British has resurfaced in recent years, in part fuelled by globalisation, immigration and the growth of regionalism.

Politicians and newspaper commentators have argued over the intangible mix of values, customs and outlook that defines ''Britishness''.

''This is about ensuring young people understand what it means to be British today,'' Johnson said in a statement yesterday. ''I want them to think critically about ethnicity, religion and race and assess our modern-day society through the lens of our recent past.

''Slavery is abhorrent in today's Britain -- but we need to recognise it is at the heart of our history in the last 300 years.

''It is crucial to confront and understand why slavery happened and the long-term social and historical impact it has had in Europe, Africa and the Americas.'' The government's exam watchdog will ask the public for their say on the proposals on Monday. If ministers approve the plans in June, lessons will start in September 2008.

Prime Minister Tony Blair last year expressed his ''deep sorrow'' for the trade, while acknowledging the British campaign that led to its abolition in 1833.

But Conservative MP Douglas Carswell, who is also a member of the House of Commons education committee, said slavery lessons were ''in danger of being hijacked by political correctness''.

REUTERS MQA ND0904