Incidents of racism or racist bullying in Scotland’s schools have seen a sharp increase of 50% over the past year, according to figures obtained by BBC Scotland News. The Freedom of Information requests sent to all 32 councils revealed that there were more than 3,600 incidents recorded last year, compared to 2,400 the previous year. However, campaigners argue that the actual numbers are likely much higher due to councils not properly documenting all incidents as per Scottish government guidelines.
One such case involved Ekta’s daughter, Anisa, who was subjected to taunting about her skin colour at just seven years old. Despite Ekta’s attempts to work with the school to address the racism, the bullying persisted. Anisa eventually reached a breaking point and had to switch schools, a decision that was not unique to their situation. BBC Scotland News reported a significant rise in incidents of racism and racist bullying in schools, with many cases going undocumented or mislabeled.
The Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER) has highlighted the increase in racist incidents, as well as the failure of schools to properly report such cases. Their establishment of AdRESS aims to support families dealing with racism at school. Kwaku Adje, an advocate for CRER, emphasized the importance of educating children about the impact of racist behavior and addressing the root causes. Adje suggested that the rise in incidents could be attributed to the normalization of racist behaviors and exposure to toxic content on social media.
CRER is advocating for mandatory logging of racist incidents in schools and more training for educators. In response to the rise in racism, some schools are taking proactive measures to combat discrimination. St Francis of Assisi Primary School in Glasgow saw students drafting an anti-racism charter, inspired by their head teacher’s commitment to addressing racist incidents. The school community is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment where diversity is celebrated.
The Scottish government has acknowledged the need to tackle racism in schools, emphasizing the importance of diversity and equality in education policies. Ann Davie, the chief executive of East Dunbartonshire Council, assured that racism and bullying are taken seriously within their educational establishments. Clear guidelines and professional training are provided to staff to effectively respond to incidents of bullying, including racism. With new guidance on the horizon, it remains crucial for schools to address and monitor racist behavior to create safe learning environments for all students
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