Holocaust education to be made mandatory in schools, UK PM Starmer says
Holocaust education to be made mandatory in schools, UK PM Starmer says
Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Holocaust Educational Trust, Starmer said he aimed to be 'bolder and more defiant' on Holocaust education.
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Holocaust education is already on the UK schools curriculum, however does not have to be taught by every school [Getty]
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday pledged to introduce mandatory lessons on the Holocaust at schools in England.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Holocaust Educational Trust, Starmer said he had aimed to be "bolder and more defiant about the national importance of Holocaust education".
"For the first time, studying the Holocaust will become a critical, vital part of every single student's identity," the prime minister said.
"And not just studying it, learning from it too. And above all, acting on its lessons."
Holocaust education is already on the UK schools curriculum, however does not have to be taught by every school.
The Labour leader also pledged to allocate £2.2 million towards the trust's Lessons from Auschwitz project, which includes visits to the Nazi concentration camp in Poland for teachers and students.
"This Government will continue funding Lessons from Auschwitz and I can confirm that tonight we are providing at least £2.2 million next year to do that," he said.
"Tonight I am making two decisions in advance of that review. First, the Holocaust will remain on the curriculum come what may.
"And second, even schools who do not currently have to follow the national curriculum will have to teach the Holocaust when the new curriculum comes in."
The prime minister also reiterated a pledge from July to build a Holocaust memorial centre near parliament — a proposal made nearly a decade ago under a Conservative government.
The memorial aims to honour the memory of the more than six million Jews and other victims killed by the Nazis and their collaborators in World War Two.
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