On Thursday 30th July, it emerged that the government had rejected the review urging for greater inclusion of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) history to the national curriculum.
A cross-party of 30 30 politicians had recently written to the government demanding that black historians and leaders be asked to offer revisions to what is taught presently as well as new topic ideas. New topics proposed and agreed by the politicians could have potentially covered the Windrush generation and discuss the positive contribution people of all ethnicities to the UK.
Layla Moran is the Liberal Democrats’ education spokesperson who had led the appeal and has accused ministers of being “tone deaf” to their request. According to her, this proposal would have given more space to the historical injustices that have led to racism.
Moran said, “The Black Lives Matter movement has not only exposed the inequalities faced by black people in the UK, but it has galvanised people right across the country who are desperate for change.
“If we are to tackle the institutional racism in our society, the curriculum must not only be diverse, but we must equip young people with an understanding of the historical injustices that have led to that very racism. As a former teacher, I know just how fundamental education can be in driving change in our society. The government’s rejection of a review of our curriculum demonstrates their reluctance to follow their platitudes with any meaningful action.”
However, The Guardian has reported that Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said there were no immediate plans to hold a review of the syllabus and that the Department for Education had been discussing BAME history with different organisations. He added that it would continue to explore what else could be done to support its teaching in the classroom.
Gibb said that, as part of a broad curriculum, pupils should be taught about different societies and that this can include the “voices and experience” of BAME people. He said, “It can also include the role of the countries of the former British empire in both world wars, and the part black and minority ethnic people have played in shaping the UK in the 20th century. I believe there is clear scope to teach the shared history we have.”
The Welsh government is conducting a review into the way black and minority ethnic history is taught in schools ahead of the introduction of a new curriculum in 2022.
