EDUCATION: Youngsters lacking direction
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Fewer than half of British children can locate London on a map with no place names, according to research carried out by NOP for Microsoft. The survey of nearly 900 children aged eight to 16 also found that only just over a quarter could pinpoint Edinburgh, and 37 per cent could not find Scotland.
The Government's curriculum advisers said they found the children's ignorance "disturbing". Geography has been a compulsory part of the national curriculum for children aged eight to 14 since 1991 - voluntary from 14 to 16 - and identifying principal cities, regions and rivers on a map of the United Kingdom is something all 11-year-olds should have covered.
The survey suggests that they are even more at sea outside their own country. Only two in five could identify Germany on a map of Europe with no place names. Three out of five did not know the language spoken in Tokyo and nearly seven out of 10 were stumped when asked Mexico's main language.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments