Edinburgh biology teacher Hardeep Kaur has been awarded the Saroj Lal Award for a Pioneering Spirit in Equality and Diversity, after impressing with her work addressing insidious forms of racism.
Ms Kaur (pictured right), who works at Portobello High School, devised staff training focusing on microaggressions and the importance of correctly pronouncing the names of black and/or minority ethnic (BAME) learners.
She also spoke to students in personal and social education classes and assemblies, and started equalities groups for staff and learners. Judges said she had given “space for learners to grow in confidence and articulate their antiracist principles”.
The Saroj Lal Award, presented by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), celebrates “teachers who challenge adversity in a bid to promote and facilitate a culture and ethos of equality and diversity”.
Early in Ms Kaur’s career, judges noted, “Hardeep resisted being seen as the token person of colour working in the equalities area”. In 2019 “a racist incident was the catalyst for her becoming an active participant in equalities work in her school, not for her own benefit but for the learners, staff and members of the school community”.
‘Genuine antiracist change and impact’
Ms Kaur established guidance in her school, writing a policy for managing racist incidents. She also led a campaign that involved placing posters with QR codes around the school, allowing learners to discreetly report racist incidents.
The GTCS said: “Her core guiding ethos was to make sure the policy was not punitive but restorative and informative, to lead to genuine antiracist change and impact.”
Ms Kaur now works with the University of Edinburgh’s School of Education on its antiracist practice and policy, and supports teaching students at the university.
She said: “I am deeply humbled to have been selected for the Saroj Lal award, from a field I know is rich with talented colleagues all working to ensure Scotland is an inclusive and diverse country to live and work in.
“To have been given an award named for such an amazing woman is a huge honour and I will keep striving to make sure I’m worthy of it. I’m grateful for all the support I have received from family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, the young people I get to work with and be inspired by every day.”
Saroj Lal (pictured left), one of Scotland’s first BAME teachers, died in 2020. Her son and award panellist Vineet Lal said: “Hardeep’s steadfast commitment to challenging prejudice within education, and her determination to embed the values of antiracism within the school environment, exemplify the pioneering spirit that is the hallmark of this award.
“Hardeep’s story is one that will undoubtedly inspire and encourage other practitioners within the sector to go above and beyond in the name of equality, and to make a real difference - all qualities that Saroj herself would have recognised and applauded.”
The Saroj Lal Award is linked to the GTCS Professional Values (social justice, trust and respect, and integrity) and the Standard for Career-Long Professional Learning.
GTCS chief executive and registrar Dr Pauline Stephen praised Ms Kaur’s “courageous leadership of antiracist programmes and policies in her school, focused on creating a safe space for conversation and developing understanding of staff and learners”.
The GTCS has produced Equality and Diversity: a guide for teachers and two professional learning modules to help teachers “promote and embed equality and diversity in their teaching”.
