Schools need 'happiness lessons'

Schools should teach pupils "the secrets of happiness", a leading economist has claimed.

Professor Lord Layard, from the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics, has called for a new generation of teachers specialising in "emotional intelligence" to spearhead a "revolution" in education.

Giving the Ashby Lecture at the University of Cambridge, Lord Layard said the subject, which could possibly be taught in revised personal, social and health education lessons, should be studied until pupils reach 18.

"It should be a major aim of each school to train character and provide moral education," he said.

"To become happier we have to move to a positive sum game in which we each care positively about the well-being of others.

"I think it requires an educational revolution in which a central purpose of our schools is to teach young people about the main secrets of happiness for which we have empirical evidence."

He continued: "I believe it can only be done by the schools." Lord Layard said every school should adopt scientifically evaluated approaches to the teaching of "emotional intelligence".

"University applicants should give evidence of good project work in this area," he said.

"But without a cadre of specialist teachers acting as proselytes and high priests of the movement, there is no chance of the educational revolution we need."

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