The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union has raised urgent concerns with
the Prime Minister over the re-opening of schools and the
disproportionate impact of Covid-19 infections and deaths on
black and minority ethnic children, young people and adults.
NASUWT's General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach has called on the
Government to set out how its five tests and commitments to the
country will be addressed in terms of equality impact in general,
and, specifically, in relation to the impact on black and
minority ethnic populations.
Dr Patrick Roach said:
“The Government must make public the evidence and assessment on
which it is relying to conclude that the wider reopening of
schools will not lead to further discriminatory impacts in the
transmission of the Coronavirus.
“Schools cannot be expected reasonably or responsibly to plan for
wider reopening without access to this critical information.”
Under the Equality Act 2010 all public bodies, including the
Government, have to give due regard to the need to achieve the
objectives set out under s149 of the Equality Act 2010. This is
to:
(a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any
other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act
2010;
(b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a
relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share
it;
(c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant
protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
Dr Roach added:
"The NASUWT is concerned as the Government moves to phase two of
easing lockdown, that any measures introduced by Government or by
schools should not force the Reproduction rate of the virus - the
“R” - back up over 1, either for the population as a whole or for
sections of the population based on their protected
characteristics.
"The NASUWT has an obligation to its members to act to protect
their safety, including their rights under the Equality Act 2010.
"We are calling for urgent clarification as to how the
Government's five tests and the commitment to reopen schools to
more children from 1 June will take into and contribute towards
meeting the Government's statutory obligations under the Equality
Act 2010.
“The NASUWT is also asking the Prime Minister to make clear,
before seeking to confirm that the five tests have been met, that
the “R” rate for black and minority ethnic communities is also
below 1 in line with the commitments he has previously given to
the country.”
Earlier this month, Dr Roach signed a joint
letter to the Prime Minister alongside more than 70 BAME
British figures calling for an independent public
inquiry into the disproportionate deaths from COVID-19 amongst
Britons from minority backgrounds.