Students and teachers witnessing high levels of racism in schools, new survey finds

Bernard Joyce, director of the Irish Traveller Movement, said the survey findings highlighted the need for mandatory training on anti-racism within schools. File picture

A high level of racism is being witnessed in schools, a new survey suggests, prompting calls for mandatory training on anti-racism for students. 

A survey released on Thursday by Yellow Flag Programme highlights how many students have witnessed racism within their school. 

The survey of more than 1,612 pupils and more than 460 teachers found: 

• 43% of students reported witnessing racism once, and 32% witnessed it more than once; 
• 23% of teachers reported witnessing a racist incident in their school; 
• 75% of teachers have no training in anti-racism or interculturalism. 

It follows research published last week that documented how discrimination, exclusion, and structural inequality remain embedded within the Irish education system. 

The report, led by the School of Education at University College Cork and the Cork Traveller Education Unit, also lays bare the stark scale of educational inequality experienced by Travellers. Just 27% of Travellers complete at least upper-secondary education, compared with 97% of the wider population.

In March, the Irish Second Level Students Union published research which found 41% of minority ethnic students experienced racism in the previous 12 months. 

Anti-racism should be a compulsory element of the education curriculum in all schools, said Special Rapporteur for Racial Equality and Racism Ireland Dr Ebun Joseph. 

“Ireland has established a framework and has a commitment to address racism, but the implementation of this remains ‘procedural rather than transformative’ and data collection on racism and ethnicity is insufficient," she said.  

Rising anti-migrant sentiment and far-right activity pose increasing risks to social cohesion. Education and better understanding must start within all schools, both at primary and post-primary level. 

"And more broadly, I also recommend mandatory anti-racism training across all of the civil and public service.”

On Thursday, 13 schools are to receive Yellow Flag Awards for diversity through the Yellow Flag Progamme, a whole-school initiative supporting them to become more inclusive. 

Bernard Joyce, director of the Irish Traveller Movement, which developed the Yellow Flag Programme, said the survey findings highlighted the need for mandatory training on anti-racism within schools. 

“Our survey makes it very clear that continued and greater investment is needed to train and support teachers with specific knowledge and skills for anti-racism and intercultural education.”

He added: "Schools receiving the Yellow Flag are examples of positive, proactive change. Investment in programmes like these is essential to ensure safe, inclusive and equitable education for all students.”