LONDON: Brutal aspects of British rule in India during the 20th century will feature in a syllabus approved for secondary schools in England. Pupils aged 11 to 14 will study events like the Jalianwala massacre, Amritsar, when hundreds of protesters were killed by British troops.
The government’s curriculum watchdog that approved the syllabus was immediately accused of “anti-Churchill bias” and criticised for recommending history websites with links to the erotic Indian classic, the Kama Sutra.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority denied any anti-British bias and said that the optional unit for Key Stage 3 would foster understanding between the mix of nationalities in England. Next year sees the 60th anniversary of independence for India and Pakistan.
A QCA spokeswoman said teachers were given a health warning to check any resources before using them in class.
“The unit that we have published does not mention the Kama Sutra or any other sexual matters. It looks at the history of India. The Kama Sutra is not something that should be taught in Key Stage 3 (for 11-14 year-olds) history lessons,” she added.
The new unit, called How and why is the legacy of British rule in the Indian subcontinent interpreted in different ways?, suggests how teachers can cover the key background to the struggle for independence, looking at why India was such an important part of the British empire and the events leading up to and after independence.
The QCA says schools should explore the impact of British rule in greater depth.
Ken Boston, chief executive of QCA, said: “Given the mix of nationalities in England, it is important to foster understanding through learning. In history children need to learn about British history, but also need to improve their knowledge of the events that shaped the world we live in. —Dawn/The Guardian News Service
