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Government 'must do more' for asylum-seeking pupils
12 March 2010
The government should do more to ensure children of asylum-seeking adults receive sufficient education provision while they are in the UK, it has been claimed.
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls MP said legislation has been changed to oblige immigration centre staff to consider the educational needs of children as part of ensuring their well-being while detained, but more could be done.
During an interview with pupils as part of the BBC's School Report project, Mr Balls said: "We've got a responsibility to every child who is here in our country.
"We made a change a year ago to say that the people who are running the immigration centres have got to [… ensure] they've got a chance to learn."
Mr Balls also revealed that his dream celebrity headteacher would be Fabio Capello, citing the discipline and teamwork the England manager has inspired in the national football team as demonstrative of the qualities needed in a good school leader.
The schools secretary will be Labour's candidate for Morley and Outwood in the next election.