Coronavirus: Illness sparks rise in racist bullying in schools
Fiona Simpson
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Education leaders have written to the government calling for coronavirus advice for schools to be extended to cover a rise in racist bullying relating to the disease.
Teachers’ union NASWUT said it had seen an increase in “incidences of abuse, prejudice, xenophobia and racism as a result of the coronavirus, particularly against Chinese and other East Asian ethnicities and those perceived to be from these communities”.
In a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and his counterparts in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the union said teachers and pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds “have been subject to ‘jokes’, banter, racist name-calling and intimidation”.
At one school pupils had been seen playing an “unsavoury game of tag named after the coronavirus,” the letter states.
NASWUT has called on politicians to “provide guidance and support for school leaders” to help tackle incidents of bullying related to the illness, known as Covid-19.
The union has advised members who witness or are subject to racism or bullying to:
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Keep a log of the incident, including date, time and names of the person(s) involved and any witnesses.
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Report it to the designated lead in your school or college.
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Contact the NASUWT workplace representative or the Union’s national or regional offices for advice.
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Complete the school/college incident report form and keep a copy.
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Consider whether it is appropriate to report the incident to the police.
Chris Keates, the union’s acting general secretary, said: “NASUWT is extremely concerned at the extent of increased incidences of abuse, prejudice, xenophobia and racism as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
“Unfortunately, schools and colleges are not exempt from the associated xenophobic and racialised stereotyping of Chinese and other East Asian people. The NASUWT has received reports of increased covert and overt racial attacks perpetrated against some minority ethnic pupils and NASUWT members linked to coronavirus concerns.
“The NASUWT is urging the Department for Education to communicate with schools and provide guidance and support for school leaders.”
The letter comes as the number of people diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK jumped from 51 to 87 in a single day.
The Department for Education and Public Health England has offered advice for schools and education settings over how to deal with an outbreak of the virus.
