The teacher and academic behind a new publication on antiracism in education hopes it will boost efforts to make the teaching profession in Scotland more diverse and representative of society.

The National Anti-Racism Framework for Initial Teacher Education in Scotland was written by Dr Khadija Mohammed - associate dean for equality, diversity and inclusion at the University of the West of Scotland - after she was commissioned by the Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE).

It was launched during the SCDE and Education Scotland’s annual initial teacher education (ITE) symposium, and objectives include: “the embedding of antiracist practice in ITE”; helping ITE staff “better support [black and minority-ethnic] students”; and encouraging ITE staff to “reflect on the importance of antiracist practice with all students”.

• Listen: Khadija Mohammed on the Tes Scotland podcast in 2020
• Related: Why tackling racism as a collective responsibility in education
• Data: How close is Scotland to meeting target for minority-ethnic teachers?

Dr Mohammed said: “Our teaching workforce isn’t as representative of the learners and families in our schools as it could be. The Scottish government has a target that by 2030 the number of black and minority-ethnic teachers in Scotland’s schools should be at least 4 per cent.

“I hope this framework will help support the changes needed at ITE to attract, welcome and retain student teachers of colour by improving the quality of their experience in ITE.”

Professor Margery McMahon, chair of SCDE, said: “Teacher-education providers have already taken steps toward the embedding of antiracist practice, building on work already underway in their universities, including a commitment for representatives from all ITE providers to engage in the Building Racial Literacy programme.”

She added that the new framework would “allow institutions to deepen their intentions and actions”.

Education Scotland and the General Teaching Council for Scotland worked with Dr Mohammed on the framework.

Ollie Bray, strategic director at Education Scotland, said: “I thank Dr Mohammed for her work on the development of this crucial framework and for her commitment throughout her career to improving the experiences of student, new and experienced teachers.”