Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that teaching and guidance is given in schools to ensure that children understand caste discrimination.

Schools are encouraged to teach their pupils about the diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom through the citizenship national curriculum for KS4. Pupils should also be taught about the need for mutual respect and understanding. Pupils may also be taught about diversity and equality through the non-statutory personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) curriculum.

The Department for Education will shortly be publishing new guidance on promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of pupils, highlighting the importance of pupils gaining knowledge and understanding of different cultures. Schools may achieve this through their whole school ethos as well as teaching of curriculum subjects.