Education: Museums miss out on teaching

Two-thirds of all museums in Britain make little or no special provision for education and fewer than a quarter employ an education specialist, according to a government-commissioned report published yesterday.

The study, A Common Wealth: Museums and Learning in the United Kingdom, reveals that the UK's 1,700 registered museums could do much more to develop their educational work, even though many have made efforts to enhance their provision over the past decade.

David Anderson, author of the report and head of education at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, proposes National Lottery money should be used to fund the development of museum education. The study, commissioned by the Department of National Heritage, also says each museum should employ a specialist educator, and recommends the establishment of a parliamentary standing committee on museum education.

A Common Wealth, free, Department of National Heritage Public Inquiry Point, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DH.