NEU comments on Government call for schools to educate pupils about contemporary antisemitism to tackle anti-Jewish hate crime

Commenting on the Government’s Independent Adviser on Antisemitism report Anti-Jewish Hatred: Tackling Antisemitism in the UK 2022 - Renewing the Commitment, calling for schools to be required to teach about contemporary antisemitism in addition to pupils learning about the Holocaust, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: 

“The NEU shares the perception of the Report that the spread of antisemitism and race hate is a growing problem.

‘As the Report notes, the Union recognises the imperative to conduct lessons on antisemitism and Islamophobia. It agrees with what the Report describes as its most critical recommendation, that all secondary schools across the UK should teach their pupils about contemporary antisemitism.

‘Government should act on this recommendation, involving teachers in the work. But it must treat the fight against racism as indivisible. When ministers and MPs attack asylum seekers, they create a hospitable environment for xenophobia and actively obstruct the work of schools in teaching against race hate, including antisemitism”.