A series of research studies conducted over more than a decade show that racism has remained a perennial problem in Scottish schools and is damaging the mental health of minority ethnic pupils, as well as making them feel excluded and alienated.
The studies - spanning 2005 to 2019 - are summarised in a new resource for schools that the Scottish government hopes will help embed anti-racism and race equality into all aspects of school life.
The studies show that the racism experienced by minority ethnic young people ranges from racial slurs and Muslim girls being targeted for wearing the hijab or niqab, to physical attacks.
Background: Why must we wait for racial equity progress in schools?
The stats: Thousands of racist incidents recorded in schools
Inquiry: ‘Intensification of Islamophobia’ in Scottish schools
Diversity: Proportion of BAME teachers barely changes in a decade
A pupil’s experience: Scottish education can do better for BAME pupils
A study from 2016 found Islamophobia common in school. But incidents were unlikely to be reported to teachers and learner confidence in teachers dealing effectively with these incidents was low.
In 2019, a survey of more than 100 minority ethnic young people found that many of the respondents did not feel that school staff understood their culture, heritage or background; over half of female respondents did not feel teachers understood the challenges related to racism and discrimination.
Now, the Scottish government - which has come under fire for being “painfully slow” in getting behind anti-racism work - has published a new package of resources where the above studies and others are summarised in a bid to set out how minority ethnic young people experience racism in school.
The government says it hopes the online materials produced by Education Scotland will ensure children and young people in school “see language, content and imagery that reflects the diversity of culture, identities and experiences, including their own”.
There is also a guide to anti-racist curriculum development from the charity, Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, and a teacher toolkit published by Scotdec, one of Scotland’s development education centres, both of which are designed to further support teachers in embedding anti-racism across the curriculum.
However, there was some scepticism when the SNP, in its manifesto for May’s Scottish Parliament election, committed to developing the online programme.
Writing for Tes Scotland in April, Khadija Mohammed - a senior lecturer in education at the University of the West of Scotland and now a member of the new expert panel on reform in Scottish education - described the commitment as “somewhat underwhelming” and argued for “mandatory anti-racist education to support our leaders, teachers and young people to develop an anti-racist consciousness”.
In January, a freedom of information request by the Scottish Liberal Democrats revealed at least 2,251 instances of racism in Scottish schools over a three-year period up to and including 2019-20. And in June, the first public inquiry into Islamophobia in Scotland was published. It found that schools are “places where Islamophobia is experienced increasingly, both for teachers and pupils”.
Three exciting resources to support anti-racist education in Scotland!
Check out:
➡️ the @EducationScot overview resource
➡️ the @crer_scotland anti-racist curriculum development guide
➡️ the @ScotdecLearning anti-racist toolkit for educators written by @TitilayoGLA https://t.co/q6jh9Mgm59
- Mélina Valdelièvre (@MlinaValdelivr1) August 26, 2021
Announcing the new package of resources, education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Racism of any form has no place in Scotland, which is why embedding anti-racism into the ethos and practice of our education system is imperative.
“This new Education Scotland guidance builds on existing resources available and was developed in collaboration with a range of young people, education practitioners and organisations with lived experience of racism and expertise in addressing it.
“Our schools and our curriculum seek to promote and inspire a sense of belonging, inclusion and social justice for learners, practitioners and the wider community. Having an education system that provides an opportunity for anti-racism learning, debate and leadership is crucial in our attempt to eradicate racism in wider society.”
Education Scotland chief executive Gayle Gorman said: “It is essential that all our children and young people develop an understanding of the world around them and how it has been shaped, as well as an appreciation of the contribution made by people from a range of cultures and identities.
“Our new resource will support the profession to teach and build a society which advances equality, and actively rejects and challenges racial discrimination. We hope that our whole-school approach to race equality and anti-racism will help children and young people develop as responsible global citizens.”
