THE GOVERNMENT will be questioned by two committees on the inclusion of black history and cultural diversity in the UK curriculum, after thousands signed a petition on the topic.

Education Minister Nick Gibb will be presented with evidence by the Petitions Committee and the Women and Equalities Committee today.

This session follows two evidence sessions in November where the committee heard from petitioners, experts and academics on the need for change after several petitions calling on the Government to teach Britain’s colonial past as part of the UK’s compulsory curriculum. In total, more than 200,000 people signed.

The petitions highlighted that currently, students can go through the education system without learning about colonisation or the transatlantic slave trade.

One stated: “We petition the government to make education on topics such as these compulsory, with the ultimate aim of a far more inclusive curriculum.

“Now, more than ever, we must turn to education and history to guide us.”

Following this, the Petitions Committee sought the perspectives and experiences of teachers, school staff and home educators through an online survey.

The results revealed that 90% of respondents felt there should be a statutory requirement for all children to be educated about the history of Britain’s ethnic and cultural minorities, including Britain’s role in colonisation and the transatlantic slave trade.

A further one in four teachers told the committee that they lacked confidence in their ability to develop their pupils’ understanding of black history and cultural diversity.

Teachers consistently shared this concern, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds.

Caroline Nokes, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, hailed the government’s approach to tackling the issues.

“A rich and diverse national curriculum is vital for equipping young people with a fuller understanding of the breadth of British history and the contribution to society by all parts of the community,” she said.

“Whilst the curriculum currently offers opportunities for this – it is not clear that this optional approach is sufficient, especially for educating young people about black history.

“We have already heard thought-provoking evidence from people who have created petitions on this subject, from leading education providers, experts and academics. We are keen to hear what the Government plans to do to create a more inclusive diverse curriculum.”

The evidence session will take place virtually from 2.30pm and will be broadcast live on Parliament TV.