Gove will not break promise on Seacole and Equiano

Over the last few days, there has been much speculation about changes to the draft history curriculum. The Guardian reported that Michael Gove was considering significant changes to curriculum particularly for 7-11 year olds, which critics such as Runnymede trust and Operation Black Vote have argued was too Eurocentric, white and male. Latest plans suggest that the Curriculum will incorporate a world history that is able to sit alongside historical events of both Britain and Europe.

This would be excellent news and would allow young students the possibility of learning about ancient sophisticated African civilisations including Nubian, Egyptian, and Chusite. Children could also be taught about ancient Chinese and Latin American cultures too.

However, the same details also suggest that slave abolishist Olaudah Equiano would no longer be taught.

I have no reason to believe that the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove will renege on a promise that both Mary Seacole and Olaudah Equiano will be included in the new curriculum. In a personal letter confirming they would be included Gove stated:

We are lucky to be heirs to a very rich mix of exceptional thinkers, bold reformers and courageous political activists, "

such as Seacole and Equiano,

I agree that is important that our children learn about difference that these figures have made, and it is right that we do more, not less to make subjects relevant to the lives of our children."

The latest considerations to the curriculum suggest that with a strong reasoned argument, Gove is prepared to listen and change his mind. I’ve no doubt he’ll keep some form of chronology, and seek not to be too prescriptive, but a good steer with some sign posts events and individuals should be present.

The result will therefore, be a diverse, rich and fascinating history curriculum which will inform and excite young minds to a world past, present and future which fantastically belongs to them.

Simon Woolley