More than citizenship classes needed to solve youth disaffection - Teather

7.59.14pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 15th May 2006

Responding to Bill Rammell's speech at South Bank University on introducing British citizenship lessons, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Sarah Teather MP said "The whole issue of disaffection amongst young people is more complicated than Ministers suggest.

"The values we seek to impart to our children must be reflected in all levels of society. Expecting teachers to be able to overcome all the factors that lead to youth disaffection with a few classes is unrealistic and impractical.

"The government should undertake research into the causes of social alienation - whether it be poverty, lack of community cohesion or other cultural factors. They are right to recognise the problem, but are wrong to think it can be solved so simply."