The UK government is considering dropping citizenship from the National Curriculum. If it does, it could be in danger of breaking an obligation to teach International Humanitarian Law. John Lloyd explains why.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) serves to protect those not taking part in fighting and to restrict the potential for war. It is set out in the Geneva Conventions, which require all states to share knowledge of it as widely as possible.
In the UK this has been done through the citizenship curriculum since 2006, when Liz Moorse (then at the QCA) and I succeeded in amending the key stage 4 requirement. It now specifies that citizenship education should include:
‘Political and human rights and freedoms in a range of contexts from local to global. ([Explanatory Note] Human Rights are part of national and international law. Students should explore the roles of the United Nations and European Union in securing human rights and learn that International Humanitarian Law aims to provide protection for victims of armed conflict and children caught up in fighting)’ (QCA, 2007).
Every state in the world has agreed to be bound by the Conventions and, from subsequent obligations, to encourage the study of IHL by their citizens :
‘The High Contracting Parties undertake, in time of peace as in time of war, to disseminate the text of the present Convention as widely as possible in their respective countries, and, in particular, to include the study thereof in their programmes of military and, if possible, civil instruction, so that the principles thereof may become known to the entire population…’ (Geneva Convention I, Article 47; GCII, Art. 48; GCIII, Art. 127 and GCIV, Art. 144).
In 2007 the UK Government made a pledge, to an international convention, on including International Humanitarian Law in the school curriculum. They have to report back at the next convention later this year . What will they say? That the previous government embedded it in the citizenship curriculum and now the incumbent Education Secretary wants to drop that subject altogether?
The 1949 Geneva Conventions are the cornerstone of International Humanitarian Law. I want a serious debate about the review of citizenship education and the place of IHL within it; and I would like the Department of Education to disclose its plans for IHL within the curriculum.
Dr. John Lloyd is the Policy Adviser for the PSHE Association, formerly an adviser at the DCSF for Citizenship and member of the Citizenship Education Working Party 2000-2004.
References
Coffey D. (2010). Teaching the ‘rules of war’. Teaching Citizenship Issue 28 Autumn
QCA (2007). The National Curriculum. Statutory requirements for key stages 3 and 4. London. Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
You can find out more about IHL and the Geneva Conventions (1949) on the ICRC’s website.
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Citizenship is a very important part of the curriculum – it is the only part of the curriculum that teaches how democracy, politics, the economy and the law work. It is based on human Rights and one of the articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is:
Article 42 (Knowledge of rights): Governments should make the Convention known to adults and children. Adults should help children learn about their rights, too.
Therefore it is our responsibility as educators to ensure that this happens.
Citizenship is one of the fastest growing subjects and involves students being involved in their community; volunteering and helping those in need, making changes in their communities. It also helps improve community cohesion.
There are nearly 2000 trained Citizenship teachers in the Uk and this number is growing every year. – what happens to these teachers if the subjects is dropped from the curriculum?