Teaching union bids to fight racism in the North

The Ulster Teachers Union has teamed up with the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities to lead the fight against racism in the North's schools, it was announced today.

They have produced a guidance leaflet for the union’s 6,500 members which is being launched at the UTU annual conference being held in Newcastle, Co Down over the next two days.

Speaking at the launch of the leaflet UTU President Rosemary Barton said the union recognised teachers needed more support from the Department of Education in order to tackle any possible racist behaviour before it could become an issue in schools.

Ms Barton said: “For some time the UTU has felt that our members need more guidance and help in making sure that pupils from ethnic backgrounds get the same educational opportunities as everyone else.”

She said in the past Northern Ireland may have seen issues relating to race as less important that other issues.

But she said “There is evidence that this is changing, prompted by a growing number of racially-motivated incidents. For that reason, and also because we are aware of a growing number of pupils from racially diverse backgrounds, we approached the council for ethnic minorities to assist us in the development of guidelines which we are launching at the conference.”

Ms Barton said the union would be working with the department, the CEM and the Equality Commission in the coming months to ensure that children learn that racism is wrong from an early age and that teachers were well equipped to cope with the growing number of pupils from multi-ethnic backgrounds.

The UTU had isolated different areas where they felt there was need for urgent action.

:: Racially motivated bullying – the development of guidelines for teachers.

:: Differences in language and culture.

:: Addressing weaknesses in the curriculum.

:: Developing a database on the performance of children from ethnic backgrounds.

:: Considerations around school uniforms.

:: The need for a Racial Liaison Officer for each Education Board.

Patrick Yu of the CEM said he was delighted a major trade union had offered to put its weight behind the fight for a good education for all children regardless of their background.

“The Race Relations Order of 1997 makes it illegal to discriminate directly or indirectly on racial grounds, yet there is no statutory obligation on the Education and Library Boards to provide teachers with the support and training they require to adequately provide children from ethnic backgrounds with the same chances as other children,” he said.

It was vital teachers were aware of the issues and understood the backgrounds from which their pupils came and recognised and acted against racially motivated bullying, he added.

Mr Yu said the CEM looked forward to working with the UTU and the Department of Education to help draft policies and guidelines which would help to “level the playing field for all pupils, regardless of their race, creed or colour”.