Government must change the law to prohibit racists from teaching in schools

5 July 2011

Commenting on reports that racist behaviour is still a problem in schools, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union, said:

“Figures obtained by the NASUWT indicate that organised racist activity is a problem in one in six schools.

“There is a real problem of under-reporting of racist incidents in schools and too many schools simply don't take the problem seriously.

“The NASUWT is the only teachers' union that has asked the Government to amend the teacher's contract so that individuals who are members of the BNP and other racist organisations can be prohibited from working as teachers. Similar provisions already apply to the police, prison service and armed forces.

“Ministers have been sympathetic to the concerns raised by the NASUWT, but needs to change use the Education Bill currently being debated in Parliament to stop racists from teaching in schools.

“Regrettably, the Coalition Government's academies and free schools are likely to increase social segregation and could fuel racial and religious intolerance.

“If we are to stamp out racism in schools for good, the focus should be on a comprehensive system of education that is inclusive and provides human rights for all children and young people and for the workforce in schools.”

---

Press releases, papers and documents published on this page are the intellectual property of an organisation unrelated to ePolitix.com. We promote their parliamentary and political campaigning activities as they are subscribers to the ePolitix.com service.

As such, ePolitix.com does not edit, endorse, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases and other such types of content are the responsibility of the originating organisation.