Insurance lessons

I read with interest (8 May, Insurance Times) that the CII is suggesting that insurance could be included in the national school curriculum for GCSE - presumably as a compulsory subject.

The institute goes further and suggests that it could be included at primary school level in the form of Janet and John or Ladybird books. What nonsense.

I agree that making children aware of risk at an age that they can comprehend is desirable, but making it a core subject under the national curriculum is another matter entirely.

Having two children of 14 and 18 years, the first making GCSE selections and the latter about to complete A-level and move on to university, I find the suggestion that they may have picked insurance as a GCSE option most unlikely.

To suggest that it becomes part of a financial service core curriculum subject is quite ridiculous.

How many times have we had the discussion with colleagues as to how we joined the insurance industry ? What percentage went into insurance as a life's ambition?

I have worked in the industry for 25 years and can count on my two hands the number of people who had insurance down as a first choice career.

I am all for education in our industry and, on a day-to-day basis, have come across individuals who clearly have very limited knowledge. But, until we eventually follow the path of lawyers or accountants, who have to qualify to practice, then I do not believe the standard will ever improve.

But to attempt to teach seven-year-olds about proximate cause - what better way to dissuade them from ever considering insurance as a career

Robert Cooke
Stuart Alexander

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