A great idea, and what about some home economics and money management too. Like, I spend £1000 a month on my credit card, and pay off the minimum every month, how long will it take me to pay off and how much interest will the bank take from me?

Ron, Milton Keynes, Bucks

1. bolognese = lasagne, chilli con carne, shepherd's pie, cottage pie
2. apple pie/ fruit crumble
3. a fresh, healthy salad
4. pasta bake (includes knowing how to make pasta, rice or spaghetti
5. bread
6. pasta / pototo salad
7. an international food
8. a stir fry

xxx

J, London, UK

1. Omlette
2.Pasta
3.Roast Chicken
4.Fish with salad
5.Lasagne
6.Shepherd's Pie
7.Fruit pie (choose any fruit)
8.Victoria Sponge cake

Laura, York, UK

This is a huge step in the right direction. I learned to be interested in food and how to cook from a young age (from watching both parents in the kitchen) but i was discouraged from trying anything more adventurous than pineapple upside down cake and pizza (with ready made base and sauce) in school food tech lessons.

It may well be the parents responsibility to teach kids about good, healthy food but that is obviously not happening in many households, surely it is better for them to learn some basic skills in school. A few simple recipes cooked from start to finish with fresh, simple ingredients will be all that is needed to turn most kids onto cooking (and at least will provide the rest with a healthy meal). Once kids are inspired they will adapt the recipes and try new things themselves. With basic skills they are equipped to feed themselves and their future familes proper healthy food.

Leah Wright, Chesterfield,

Learnt mine in the boy scouts 40 years ago, no improvement since- cannot understand sauces- but I have discoverd chilli and curry. Am now teaching my kids, is not that how it transfers? Interesting, your pictures showed girls learning and men in penguin suits looking amused that a man should cook. Time to change that?

gary, Wellington, New Zealand

I think this is a good idea, plenty of young adults i know havent a clue even how to do something simple like scramble eggs!

Lisa S Essex

Lisa, Essex,

Stick the education system in the blender (or if not to hand, a grinder will do) and stir into a pulp.
Add some diced turnip (non GM but if not available then Gordon Brown will do).
Leave to cool for 15 years and serve chilled with a dash of mint...

rob, Paris, France

Great idea.The whole idea of learning to cook is to realise what you are eating ie .the whole process from how the food was grown to how it got into the shops.The kids will then become aware f what food is economically,socially and health wise.
Some of the previuos comments say this idea is a gimmick,far from it.Home economics and cooking in scools was a very common subject in schools,so it can't be a gimmick.When I was at school I was never taught cooking since the it's taken me twice as long to learn to cook.I learnt to cook because I had to otherwise I would have starved . If I lived on junk food I would be obese.

john, shrewsbury, uk

Home Economics was our favourite lesson when I was at school - not all that long ago I might add. We made:
a) Tuna pasta bake
b) Salads (interesting ones with tasty dressings)
c) Chocolate desserts, e.g. tiffin
d) Pastry
e) Pizza
f) Chicken stir fry & rice
g) Cakes
i) Apple crumble / pie

We were encouraged to know what was in our food and regularly were given prep (homework) of designing a healthy balanced menu for 6, with a budget, ingredients, weights, preparation and cooking times. All this for an under 14-year-old is quite taxing, but oh so very, very useful.

We were also international, and once a year we had a 'cook-off' between the Chinese, Asian, French, Spanish and English, in which each culture ganged up to produce a 3 course meal from home. First prize was book tokens. It was a brilliant way to understand each other. Naturally the Chinese girls always won! Probably wouldn't be allowed these days, not PC enough...

Emma, Hastings, UK

Have always believed that as a chap there are only three meals I need to know how to cook: (1) The sunday roast. It's family friendly and everyone loves it. (2) Chilli or Curry. Something for when the boys come round for the match. Easy to cook, all goes in one big pot and it's a doddle to multiply up or down depending on the numbers. (3) The all important "she's coming round to yours for dinner for the first time" meal. Something to get her in the mood and demonstrate your 'creative side' - looks appealing; easy on the carbs; heavy on the desert. Aside from these everything else just gets bunged in the oven or ordered over the phone - who on earth has time these days?!

Andy, London,

Good for the UK! Children need this as a teen.

Pasta and sauce( can have veg or meat)
veggies(salad)
Soups
curry and rice
omelettes
grilled fish/ chicken
veg stir fry
stuffed potatos

Felica , Sacile, Italy,

One of the easiest is to prepare "Home made hamburguers":
ground meat, egg, a pinch of salt and pepper. Occasionally, garlic can be also added -depending on the flavour we want to have. It has to be cooked at 70ºC and then lettuce, tomato, cheese, mustard or mayonnaise can be added. It´s simple, easy, delicious, healthy and cheap. Enjoy yourself and bon apetit!!

alicia, Capital Federal. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Children should be taught , as they used to be, the basic techniques and principles of cooking, including healthy and economic cooking, rather than how to cook a number of recipes. Children will then be equiped to make the best use of whatever raw materials, including left overs, are available and within their budget in such time as they have to prepare a meal. Recipe cooking is an approach promulgated by celebrity chefs as it encourages recipe dependency and ensures that every book of new recipes by the Jamies and the Nigellas sells well. It discourages improvisation, personal exploration and the development of a proper understanding of the art and science of cooking.

James, London, England

I'm surprised that some comments are negative; if they learn the basic principles, it may encourage healthier eating down the line - that can't be a bad thing. As someone who was forced to cook for myself, because I studied in France as a student where there were no fast-food options, and the restaurants were too expensive - it was a godsend in the long term. Not only that, but being able to cook has been a hit with the opposite sex!! My choices would be:
1. A typical Sunday Roast (Beef, Chicken,Yorkshire puddings!). Kids can make different bits of it.
2. Lasagne. (The sauce can be used for spaghetti as well and its all transferable.)
3. Chilli Con Carne and Rice (students need it).
4. Mild Chicken Curry and Rice. (obvious).
5 & 6. A meat (chicken) and vegetarian stir fry.
7. A fish dish.
8. A b-b-q using marinated skewered meat, vegetables and fish.
9. A chocolate Sponge (or sponge basics).
10. Apple (or other fruit) Pie.
Lets not shy away from good food for kids

David Laws, Brussels,

Fantastic! At last! This has to be the most positive thing for society ever - having been glued to the programme on C4 regarding free range vs 2 for a fiver chicken, hosted by Hugh Fearnely-Whittingstall, I couldn't help but be more aghast at one lady admitting that she only ever cut the breast off the chicken she'd roasted and then threw the rest away, and therefore had no idea that by turning the chicken over there was meat, added with the meat off of the legs etc she could then create another two proper meals for her family.

Certainly not her fault - she had never been shown/taught and therefore did not know.

Children should be taught to make...

Soups
Roast Chicken meals
Grilled fish and rice
Pasta sauce and pasta
Shepherd and Cottage Pie
(Good) Sausages and Mash
Fruit Salad
Crumble

If they can read and are encouraged, there should be no issue with following a recipe. Just don't test or examine what they know, then there should be healthier, more able people coming through.

Tessa, Taunton,

Top things they should learn to cook..

1.a balanced breakfast - there are lots of easy, healthy, quick things the school could show them how to cook
2. what to do with a skinless breast of chicken and seasonal veg during different seasons
3. fresh veg side dishes
4 soup, soup and more soups
5 bbq meat and veg
5. low fat puddings
6. pasta variations
7. salads
8. fish that isn't fried in fat and drowned in cream

But they also need to learn how to measure, time the cooking and figure out how to get it all on the table in the right order. Setting the table might be a good idea, too, not to mention turning off the tv while they have a meal at a reasonable rate (more than 5 minutes!) and hopefully conversation with other people at the table.

How to make a shopping list and budget a weeks worth of meals wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Diane, South of France

diane, Vaison la Romaine, France

Hope they'll be taught how to cook on an open camp fire or stove - they'll certainly need to by then!

MarkS, Leeds,

I think anyone who knows how to eat should know how to prepare a decent meal. It is for your own benefit.

P. Matikkala, mother, teacher, Finland

Piia Matikkala, Espoo, Finland

I went to school in the 70's when home economics was still part of the curriculum. The only things I remember that we made were Angel Delight pudding and mince crumble. I can safely say that I've never made them since. I don't really see the need to teach cooking in schools. If you can read a recipe book you are pretty much all set. I taught myself to cook this way and I've spent the last eighteen years cooking for my family (none of whom are the remotest bit fat.)

TC, San Diego, USA

Good idea! Everyone should know how to cook and clean.

Sixfamly6, Longwood, Florida

My British brothers and sisters.........have you taken leave of all your senses? Our children (American/Brits) can not read nor write properly ....and you approve of spending hard earned tax money on teaching little Feona, Peter and Muhammad how to bake a chicken (free range of course).

You are all daf.

Hotspur, ATL, USA

"Erm, how about proper lessons on reading, writing and arithmetic, Mr. Balls?"
If you saw what some university students eat, you'd support this campaign. It doesn't have to be a comprehensive course in gourmet cooking, but the amount of times people have marvelled at my ability to cook a basic tomato and vegetable sauce in the last term is quite frankly, worrying. We had compulsory food science until KS4 and it made all the difference. Are people forgetting about the importance of 'brain food'?

Healthy Student, London,

Sheer insanity. If they must force cooking on people do it for the drop outs and school leavers who the education system has failed. I cannot think of a bigger waste of valuable teaching time than forcing anyone above dunce level to learn cooking instead of something that will make a real difference to their professional future and ours and a country.

We need a serious clear out of the teaching "profession". Ditch this absurd "teach to the middle of the class" rubbish, face up to the real. unequal, nature of the world we live in and equip our children to deal with it.

Cooking can be learned with a microwave.

Nathan, Chelmsford, UK

Sounds like a good idea. I teach in Asia, and my 12-16 year old goods regularly furnish me with some top recipes. I'm not as good as they are, but i'm trying!

PH, Tokyo, Japan

For everyone moaning about maths and reading, how about the maths required to double or quadruple a recipe to feed a large group (the class)? Reading comprises retention and comprehension -- retain the list of ingredients and comprehend what to do with them by being able to explain what they do together (synthesis and application). And the point about kids sitting down to eat together and learning forgotten face-to-face social skills -- brilliant. Cookery is a bloody good idea to reach all kinds of learners. Fun, hands-on lessons that result in edible proceeds that the kids are proud of having made themselves? I fail to see the problem with it!

Lina, Auckland, New Zealand

Laura: what a sensible list - but wait until the PC brigade get loose on it. We must cater for all religions and cultures. No ham (Muslim and Jew); no beef (Hindu); no eggs (vegan); no meat (vegitarians) and no lettuce - it may have insects on it (Jaans); all organic, of course. And what about kosher cooking practice. etc, etc.

Chris, Ashford, Middlesex,

If you can read you can cook. What is lacking is the habit of eating properly cooked family meals. Whys are schools increasingly expected to do the family's job?

sheila, LEICESTER,

Whatever dishes children are taught (why aren't their parents teaching them?), there needs to be emphasis on a variety of METHODS, as well as ingredients.

They need to be able to grill, boil, fry, bake (including pastry dishes), roast, stew, poach, marinate and barbecue, as well as assemble a salad.

If there are ethical or medical considerations, they need to be worked out on a case-by-case basis. It is not difficult to substitute ingredients in most dishes, given sufficient notice and a sensible choice of dishes. But we all need to eat something!

They need to know how food reacts to different cooking methods, such as how oils shouldn't be over-heated, and fast-cooked meat should be rested before serving.

The theory and principles of how to achieve good nutrition and food hygiene are complementary matters which can be taught outside a kitchen, and are aside from the important issue of how to assemble a meal from fresh ingredients.

termite, Brisbane, Australia

Would it be politically correct to suggest that learning the basics of cooking would be the beginning of a process whereby the attendees would end up sitting together (somehow?) and actually socialising ? This could be another -and no less important skill learnt. Frequently, these days it might be a matter of a grabbed gob-full, even standing-up, but if some effort were to be made then just perhaps some people would make an important leap BACKWARDS and sit together and enjoy each others company.
Now that would be progress !!

Zee Landers, Church Stretton,

Cooking is for survival, it is parental duty to teach their children to be able to cook. I cannot believe that compulsory cooking classes has anything to do with national obesity. It is the parental resposibility to see that their children eat proper food. Balls should be picking out and guiding the immature "parents" on how to bring up their children properly instead of wasting tax payers money on his gimmick.

richardlada, Chester le Street, UK

1. Fresh tomato sauce for pasta (olive oil, garlic, fresh tomatoes and basil)
2. Roast chicken and veggies
3. Omelette (with all its variations)
4. Fresh vegetable soup
5. Salads/dressings
6. Fruit compote
7. Stir fry
8. Beef stew

Laura, Hampshire, UK

With the proliferation of scare stories on foods - you can only probably legally teach kids how to prepare Lettuce suprise or face being sued in 30 years time.

I suggest that kids learn to cook fun food from fresh or frozen ingredients - forget the healthy tag; anything home prepared, when part of a balanced diet could be called healthy, likewise a diet of lettuce and carrots could be unhealthy. We are to pre-occupied with health these days.

paulo, Luton,

but if you end up cocking curry, how can you achieve the "healthy meal" target?

riccardo, brussels,

I heard someone representing a teachers' organisation on Radio 4 this morning bemoaning that they wouldn't be able to afford certain items if this new initiative came about - including microwave ovens! Since when did microwave ovens become necessary for cooking? They don't even cook properly, and are useful for warming up a few frozen peas and that's about it. Plus the fact that they're possibly dangerous, and change the molecular structure of food in ways that we haven't yet fully appraised the possible consequences of. Anyway, if parents can't instil the basics of cooking into kids, there's something very wrong with parents. It's not the proverbial rocket science. It's simple enough to roast, pot-roast or grill meat, to cook vegetables to a nice al dente, to make a gravy (even if using a stock cube and cornflour instead of proper stock and meat juices), to boil eggs, to scramble eggs, to knock together some dough and make a pizza base on which to assemble the rest . . . Goodness me!

Andy Armitage, Hebron, Whitland, West Wales, UK

Yet more meddling.
The problem is that in many schools pupils cannot be trusted with bunsen burners, or cookers, because discipline just isn't good enough.
There is also an insane strand of anti-sexism in this. The mother almost always controls the family shop and cooking. What is the point of teaching boys to cook when they don't have the basic mathematical and writing skills they will need to put the bread on the table in the first place?

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

This is another daft idea by a bunch of daft Ministers. Never mind making English and Maths compulsory.
Education, Education and Education. What a leagacy has the Labour givernment left us. This cannot be pinned on the Conservative, in 10 years surely they should have something to show for and not just egg and bacon.

loris, Milan, Italy

Reading, riting, rithmatic?

Michael, Bridgwater,,

Stew. Roast Dinner. Curry. Steamed Fish. Pasta [with sauce]Casserole. Hot Pot. Omelette Soup. Salads..

Gwynfor, Cardiff, Wales

Someone once said that in the future houses won't have kitchens.
Just a very wide slot in the front door to push the PIZZA through.

GJB, Slough, Berkshire

At last, an excellent initiative. When I was at school I tried to take up the published cookery option; the Head himself turned up and leaned heavily on me until I reluctantly agreed to a different subject; cookery was for girls, aparently.

I just hope that this Government doesn't get TOO prescriptive and put people off the subject.

Austin, London,

Finally! when I was at school we only got taught to make a sandwich, no wonder I'm surrounded by culinary incompetents at university (seriously, frozen chicken dipper korma's?? i had to hold back the vomit). Most of the time, pasta seems to be more cajun than al dente, rice is a soggy soup and yes, learning how to cook chicken is a must. Im lucky enough to of been taught by my mum (best cook in the world). If this innotiative works then well done, about time. But the parents must take some responsibilty to teach their children to cook too, as bad eating habits pretty much run in the family

Jolyon Poole, Godalming, Surrey

Great idea, but Ed needs to look at how Food has been squeezed in terms of curriculum time, resources and funding - 1 hour lessons, 20+ pupils with little experience (even washing up is a new experience to many these days) , often 1 specialist is a school. Food teachers don't need to be given a list of compulsory recipes, we know that is needed but it is often in conflict with the demands of National Curriculum and the targets we are measured against. Divorce us from Design Technology - it was never a happy marriage,and let us get back to basics, teaching food studies as an essential life skill for all.

Tara, Birmingham,

Cooking is NOT compulsory in primary Schools......???? Should be.

Paula, Cobham, Surrey, England

If the Government is going to undertake this do it properly. No microwaves, proper equipment and cooking from scratch not using pre-prepared/processed goods is all essential. Good housekeeping is also important both for the wallet and the planet.
1.Roast Chicken with vegetables. The chicken carcass and any left over vegetables can then be used to make stock for
2.A Hearty Chicken and Vegetable soup or a chicken and vegetable risotto.
3.A good basic minced beef sauce which can then be used as a basis for countless dishes - spagetti, cottage pie, chilli etc etc.
4.Potato and courgette tortilla. A great veggie dish easily adapted.
5.A simple slow cooked meat casserole. Another basic dish that can be adapted and changed easily.
6. Simple vegetable and lentil curry with boiled rice and a home made raita.
7.Grilled chicken or fish with salad.
8.Fruit crumble and home made custard
9.Home made bread - again can be adapted and satisfying to make.
10.Stir fried vegetables.

Linda, Kingsbridge, Devon

Take away pizza

i) pick up phone
ii) order pizza
iii) answer door
iv) eat some pizza
v) throw rest in bin

optional: (i) getting fat (ii) never learning to cook (iii) whining and moaning about how its all "the governments/USA./parents" fault that you are unhealthy ..

drk, cadiz, spain

" My suggestion wd be a simple healthy meal and its vegetarian equivalent. "

How about a simple healthy meal, and it's non-vegetarian equivalent? :)

As for the comments about the time being better spent on reading, writing etc. I hope it isn't an either-or situation. There should be time for both, at least that was the case when I was at school.
I'd like to think this isn't essential - it's not that difficult to teach yourself to cook, with a good recipe book and a bit of experimentation. But it can't do any harm.

Sarah, London, UK

HOW about starting by teaching kids that a can of coke and a packet of crisps is not a wholesome breakfast???

Judging by what most people put in their shopping trolleys, some basic education in nutirion is needed before teaching how to make "poulet provençal" or "emincé of goat's scrotum en croûte"!!!

It'd probably be a good idea to teach kids some basic arithmetic so that they can see whether they've got the correct change or been ripped-off after leaving the checkout.
I'm sure there's a great new opportunity for "cross-curriculum" lessons there...

rob, Paris, France

Put the tomato on the cutting board - there's a dear!

Chris, Wokingham, England

I would much rather they be taught how to speak and write English correctly.

Education, Education, Education.

Gimmick, Gimmick, Gimmick.

Salty, Reading,

stir fry chicken and prawns,
dice the chicken add prawns and dice green,red pepper,onion,mushrooms, add baby corn and long green beans with a bit of tabasco and serve with rice.
won't get a better dish and i'm a student!

R.J, LONDON, ENGLAND

Erm, how about proper lessons on reading, writing and arithmetic, Mr. Balls?

RB, Expat.,

Halal meat no doubt!

Teresa Newland, London,

Of course they should be compulsory. Until the next government advisor decides they shouldnt be. Then they should be banned. This ban should last until the next government advisor says they should be compulsory...etc etc. (Dont laugh. This is how education is run).

e skelton, cardiff, uk

Agree that this is good idea........but with a strictly vegetarian daughter I know what a trial school cookery lessons were for her. Taking into account religious sensibities too, I do see difficulties ahead. My suggestion wd be a simple healthy meal and its vegetarian equivalent.
1. Chili con carne with rice (peferably brown rice but white wd be a good starting point)/. For vegetarian option substitute orange lentils for the meat.
2. Cauliflower with cheese sauce
3. Mashed potato, baked beans and grated cheese (my favourite school lunch) Delicious with a salad on the side.
4. Lasagne - meat , or vegetarian alternative.
5. Jacket potato with variety of toppings: tuna, cheese, beans. Salad on the side
6. Stir fried vegetables: carrot, onion, brocolli (cabbage, peas) + teryaki/oyster sauce served with rice and grilled meat/fish/veg burger.
7.Pasta bake, with vegetables mixed in. Homemade tomato sauce. topped with cheese.
8.Roast chicken +potatoes+2 veg+gravy

Cathy Clark, Singapore,

Huraah, I loved Home economics. There is nothing more important than being able to cook and understand what goes into the food we eat........how long, though, before Mr Brown introduces a Tax on meals cooked by children at school for distribution to the family. I tried to come up with a list of suggested meals but thought it best not to incase I offend anyone, but I'm sure Mr Brown will make sure that the first lesson will be all about Political Correctness in the Kitchen...although on second thoughts it better be about Cooking and its impact on global warming...eureka, put a "Green Tax" on the amount of joules of energy children use in their Home economics lesson. Oops, though that might lead to headlines ..."Home Economics, a pass time of the rich"...and then it will have to be banned...what a quandry Gordon.

Tony, Farnham, Surrey

I like Rac's ideas because every suggestion can have vegetables with or in it. It is essential that the basics are taught like white sauce and tomato sauce and lightly boiled vegetables. The main thing is also give them a taste (literally) of what can then be done with those basics to transform them into a fantastic tasting meal with the addition of herbs, spices and other condiments.

Joyce, Warwickshire,

As wide a variety of things as possible, learning different skills each time. Need to learn associated skills like how to sharpen a knife (because blunt knives = accidents) and that decent kitchen tools can make the difference between something fun and something tedious.

1. Roast chicken, including veg and gravy (to learn timings)
2. Pizza using a scone dough base (making tomato topping sauce from scratch = pasta sauce in another incarnation or spag bol)
3. A curry, probably vegetable (learning different spices and that long lists of ingredients aren't that scary)
4. Fish pie
5. Beef stir fry
6. A basic vegetable soup (if you can make one, you can make them all)
7. Apple crumble
8. Victoria sponge

Octavia, Oxford,

1. cous cous with vegetables
2. omelette and salad
3. a soup of some kind
4. pizza with choice of toppings
5. baked chips with a dip
6. shephards pie
7. pasta with tomato and hidden veg sauce
8. stir fried rice with fish and green veg

Rac, London,

This is an aexcellent idea and should be pushed as hard as is required.
Children should be taught about the technology side too and ensure that they understand about fuel costs in the production of meals. Slow Cookers are excellent and economical to use and there are many more cooking methods that should be used rather than using the main oven which is expensive.
Best of luck to those involved in this excellent scheme.

Viv Hill, elgin, Scotland

Pupils should be taught how to cook (roast, boil, grill) a chicken (hopefully a free range one!) without giving yourself or your friends salmonella. However, I suspect that the school budget or insane health and safety requirements won't allow this dish. Anyone for chocolate corn flake cakes??

Mark, Manchester, UK