Back to school for Government

A small business pressure group is calling on the Government to do more to develop the next generation of Alan Sugars, starting with an overhaul of the way that children are taught. It wants the Government to go back to school and make self-employment a real option for school pupils.

The National Chairman of the Forum of Private Business, Len Collinson, spoke following a Communication from the European Commission on fostering entrepreneurial mindsets through education.

He said: "We need to go back to school and make innovation, risk-taking, planning and managing projects key parts of the curriculum."

The European Union's Lisbon Programme is focussing on delivering jobs and growth in the economy by recognising the important role of entrepreneurship. The Programme's message in the communication was to encourage 'new thinking' on curriculum development from the governments of Member States, without adding totally new structures that would impose burdens on teaching.

Mr Collinson thinks educating the educators is a must. He said: "We must address the problem in teacher training colleges and ensure careers advisors make self-employment a positive option for school leavers.