Britain’s biggest teachers’ union accused the Ministry of Defence yesterday of asking schools to distribute pro-war propaganda to children.

The National Union of Teachers cautioned that some teaching materials prepared with MoD backing undermined schools’ legal duty to present controversial issues in a balanced way.

Delegates at the NUT’s annual conference in Manchester this month will debate calls for an end to all military recruitment activities in schools.

Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the NUT, wrote to Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary, to complain about a lesson plan intended to help pupils to learn the skill of “writing to argue”.

The plan focuses on “the ongoing occupation of Iraq by British Armed Forces”. Mr Sinnott said: “I think it is propaganda. It does not present a balanced position.

“When you are dealing with something as controversial as Iraq . . . teachers are under an enormous duty to present material that is balanced. The MoD material does not live up to that high standard.”

An MoD spokesman said: “We consulted widely with teachers and students during the development of these products and feedback from schools has been extremely encouraging.”

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