Commenting on the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee report on media literacy, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“It is vital to develop media literacy skills so young people can understand and critically challenge what they read and watch, especially online. This requires not only teaching critical thinking skills, but also a wide knowledge base to be able to question narratives and recognise bias.
“Embedding digital literacy across the curriculum is more important than ever for young people, but for this to be achievable, the significant barriers must be removed. Government performance measures such as the EBacc and Key Stage 2 SATs are pressuring schools to narrow the curriculum and only prepare students for tests and exams. ‘Exam factory’ cultures squeeze out other areas of learning, including digital literacy and helping young people to think for themselves independently and question both misinformation and disinformation.
“Government must give schools time and space so we can equip our students for the future. We need a broader curriculum that creates the skills and learning opportunities which respond to the challenges of today.”