Britain’s education minister said the county should be "incredibly proud" of its history and that should be reflected in the program of study at schools.
Speaking to reporters on Friday during the government's daily briefing on COVID-19, Gavin Williamson said students need to learn about both the positive and negative aspects of the British Empire.
“We mustn't forget that in this nation we have an incredibly rich history, and we should be incredibly proud of our history, because time and time and time again, this country has made a difference and changed things for the better, right around the world,” he said. “And we should, as a nation, be proud of that history and teach our children about it."
Williamson also said "tolerance and respect’’ must be “at the cornerstone” of all British schools.
"Tolerance and respect have to be and, I believe are, at the cornerstone of absolutely everything that this country does and teaches in all of our schools, in all of our colleges and in all of our universities, and that’s how it should be,” he said. “And that is what I want to see everyone teaching in schools right across the United Kingdom and in England.’’
Williamson’s comments came in the wake of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in many parts of the world following the death of George Floyd, an African American, while in police custody.