Follow Welsh lead on black history in schools

The Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams is leading the way in ground-breaking curriculum reform by adopting 51 recommendations of a new report which advised on the inclusion of black history in the Welsh school curriculum. report concludes that “education alone cannot put right the systemic racial inequality that is evidenced and experienced in all social policy fields…” but that schools are a “significant arena of change and critical in building the ethical and informed citizens of the future”.

It is incumbent upon all of us to take account of and welcome this report, particularly in the light of growing daily evidence of the devasting impact that racial inequality, entrenched by decades and decades of systematic racism, has across all areas of society.

It falls upon all of society to acknowledge racial inequality and do everything possible to address and eliminate it. I am sure John Swinney or any potential successor as Cabinet Secretary for Eduation would recognise the significant positive change in society that can be made towards the elimination of racial inequality in Scotland, through educating children and young people about black history, and including black history in the Scottish school curriculum.

Teaching children and young people about racism and the experiences and contributions of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people must become part of school curriculum across all nations of the United Kingdom.

Show Racism the Red Card is a charity that provides antiracism education and training to children and young people. With 25 years’ experience, we would welcome the opportunity to work with the Scottish Government in the development and implementation of the black history curriculum.

TOSCA FAIRCHILD Chair, Board of Trustees, Show Racism the Red Card, North

Shields, Tyne & Wear