This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New anti-racism resource for schools
03/12/2002
A new learning resource to help deliver effective
anti-racism education was launched today.
Educating for Race Equality - A Toolkit for Scottish
Teachers is a CD-ROM commissioned by the Executive,
partly in response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report.
It will be distributed to every school and nursery in
Scotland.
Launching the toolkit at Royston Primary School in
Edinburgh, Deputy Social Justice Minister Des McNulty said:
"Schools are at the very heart of helping our young people
understand and feel part of our multi-cultural and
multi-faith society. One of our priorities is promoting
equality and helping every pupil achieve their potential,
whatever their background.
"Educating and challenging the attitudes of young people
will help to create a Scotland where we respect and value
the diversity of our communities. It is right that we
welcome people from all cultures, nationalities and
backgrounds. The message is simple - there is no place for
racism in Scotland."
Head Teacher of Royston Primary School, Liz Whyte, said:
"Our own experience found that visits from musicians and
artists from different cultures were particularly
well-received by students. We were pleased to contribute to
this project. Practical and original ideas on how to bring
anti-racist messages into the classroom will always be very
welcome."
The Race Relations (Amendment) Act has placed new duties
on education authorities. A specific advice note for school
staff explaining how the Act affects them will be issued
later this week.
Recent research carried out for the Scottish Executive
showed that many Scots have deeply entrenched prejudices
and that racism is a problem at all levels of society and
across the whole country. Earlier this year, the Executive
launched a race awareness campaign - One Scotland, Many
Cultures.
The CD-Rom was commissioned by the Scottish Executive
Education Department and produced by the Centre for
Education for Racial Equality (CERES), Learning Teaching
Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council Education
Department. It can be accessed at:
www.digital-stream-ltd.com/rac-eq/
The toolkit will provide staff in publicly funded
pre-school, special, primary and secondary schools with
support materials for the delivery of anti-racism
education. This is the first CD-Rom of its kind in
Scotland. It contains information and advice on legislation
related to equality, faith and festivals, dealing with
racist incidents and useful links for teachers.
The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 came into force
in April, 2001. Its main provisions are to: outlaw race
discrimination in all public functions, with certain very
limited exceptions; place a general duty on specified
authorities to promote race equality; give powers to
Government to impose specific duties on public bodies to
promote race equality and to the Commission for Racial
Equality to enforce those specific duties.
An advice note for school staff explaining how the Act
affects them will be issued this week. This has been
produced by the Executive in partnership with the
Commission for Racial Equality, CERES, CoSLA and the
teacher unions.
The Executive's Race Awareness campaign 'One Scotland,
Many Cultures' highlighted the impact of racist attitudes
in Scotland. The research which influenced the campaign is
available on
www.onescotland.com
One of the Executive's five 'National Priorities for
Education' is focused on promoting equality and helping
every pupil achieve their potential, whatever their
background. Local authorities and schools are required to
show how these Priorities are being delivered by action
locally