Warning that children may be more susceptible to Russian disinformation due to a decrease in reading habits, Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, emphasized the potential impact on national security. She highlighted the increasing sophistication of hostile forces on social media and the urgent need to cultivate critical thinking skills among the youth to combat fake news spread by state actors masquerading as legitimate sources.
In an article for the Telegraph, Phillipson underscored the importance of literacy and reading comprehension in safeguarding the country against emerging threats, citing the growing danger posed by Russia and other foreign entities. She stressed the prevalence of disinformation campaigns online and the need for a new generation of discerning individuals capable of discerning truth from deception in the digital realm.
To address these challenges, the Department for Education, under Phillipson’s leadership, has partnered with the National Literacy Trust to launch a nationwide campaign aimed at making 2026 the designated year for promoting reading. The initiative seeks to reverse the declining reading rates among children, which have dropped from half of kids enjoying reading two decades ago to just a third today.
Despite the government’s efforts to introduce a new Year 8 reading test, Phillipson has encountered opposition from teaching unions, including the National Education Union, which caution against an overreliance on mandatory assessments. Meanwhile, MI6’s new chief, Blaise Metreweli, has acknowledged the pervasive disinformation targeting the UK and its allies, emphasizing the critical need for intelligence operatives to enhance their technological proficiency to counter evolving threats effectively.