Asked by: Lord Turnberg (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of antisemitic incidents in universities, and what steps they are taking in response to such incidents.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is deeply concerned about the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents and this government takes antisemitism extremely seriously. The department continues to liaise closely with Community Security Trust who provide regular updates on the number of antisemitic incidents reported in higher education (HE) since 7 October.
The Secretary of State and the Minister for Skills wrote to all schools, colleges and universities on 11 October, urging them to respond swiftly to hate-related incidents and actively reassure Jewish students that they can study without fear of harassment or intimidation. The Minister for Skills wrote again to Vice Chancellors on 16th November, further emphasising the use of disciplinary measures and the importance of police engagement, as well as the suspension of student visas where the student is a foreign national. This was one of the key actions set out in the five-point plan for tackling antisemitism in HE, which was published on 5 November. Details of the plan can be accessed at: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/11/05/how-were-protecting-jewish-students-on-university-campuses/.
A key element of the plan is the development and implementation of a Quality Seal, which is a framework of measures that will allow universities to demonstrate support for Jewish students and staff. The Quality Seal will be based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and will allow universities to demonstrate tangible evidence of its adoption and integration into their policies and practice.
The department continues to remind providers of their obligations under the prevent duty, where they should be working to prevent people from being drawn into or supporting terrorism. There is an online ‘Reporting Extremism’ form where members of the public can raise concerns to the department directly. Where concerns have arisen, departmental officials have reached out to relevant providers to ensure that appropriate action has been taken, including reporting issues to the police where appropriate.
Asked by: Lord Turnberg (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to encourage schools and examining boards to pay greater attention to the teaching of Middle East studies as a means to reduce the potential for inter-racial tensions in the UK.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Information regarding the number of secondary schools in England that teach Middle Eastern studies is not held centrally. Information about the curriculum in Wales is held by the Welsh Government.
The government agrees that it is important that education supports the understanding of other cultures and beliefs and promotes greater tolerance.
The statutory citizenship curriculum at key stage 3 includes teaching pupils about diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities and the need for mutual respect and understanding. Religious education is a mandatory subject for all state funded schools, which aims to develop understanding and knowledge of religions, while promoting respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
The department publishes GCSE subject content which sets out the knowledge, understanding and skills common to all GCSE specifications in a given subject. It provides the framework within which exam boards create the detail of their specifications. The GCSE subject content for history and geography include scope for studying wider world settings, and the national curriculum is flexible enough to allow for teaching of Middle Eastern history, although this is not a compulsory requirement.
Asked by: Lord Turnberg (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the case for increased understanding of disturbances in the Middle East, what action they are taking to promote the teaching of Middle Eastern studies in schools.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Information regarding the number of secondary schools in England that teach Middle Eastern studies is not held centrally. Information about the curriculum in Wales is held by the Welsh Government.
The government agrees that it is important that education supports the understanding of other cultures and beliefs and promotes greater tolerance.
The statutory citizenship curriculum at key stage 3 includes teaching pupils about diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities and the need for mutual respect and understanding. Religious education is a mandatory subject for all state funded schools, which aims to develop understanding and knowledge of religions, while promoting respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
The department publishes GCSE subject content which sets out the knowledge, understanding and skills common to all GCSE specifications in a given subject. It provides the framework within which exam boards create the detail of their specifications. The GCSE subject content for history and geography include scope for studying wider world settings, and the national curriculum is flexible enough to allow for teaching of Middle Eastern history, although this is not a compulsory requirement.
Asked by: Lord Turnberg (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many secondary schools in England and Wales include Middle Eastern studies in their curriculum.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Information regarding the number of secondary schools in England that teach Middle Eastern studies is not held centrally. Information about the curriculum in Wales is held by the Welsh Government.
The government agrees that it is important that education supports the understanding of other cultures and beliefs and promotes greater tolerance.
The statutory citizenship curriculum at key stage 3 includes teaching pupils about diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities and the need for mutual respect and understanding. Religious education is a mandatory subject for all state funded schools, which aims to develop understanding and knowledge of religions, while promoting respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
The department publishes GCSE subject content which sets out the knowledge, understanding and skills common to all GCSE specifications in a given subject. It provides the framework within which exam boards create the detail of their specifications. The GCSE subject content for history and geography include scope for studying wider world settings, and the national curriculum is flexible enough to allow for teaching of Middle Eastern history, although this is not a compulsory requirement.
Asked by: Lord Turnberg (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of reports of increasing anti-Semitism in the UK, whether they will consult university Vice-Chancellors about what action they can take on the decision of the National Union of Students (NUS) to prevent the Union of Jewish Students from recommending a representative on the NUS Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascist Task Force.
Answered by Earl of Courtown - Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
There is no place in our society for bigotry, hatred or any form of racism such as anti-Semitism.
Higher Education Institutions are committed to challenging intolerance on campus. They have a clear responsibility under the 2010 Equality Act to provide a safe and inclusive environment.
Student clubs, societies and associations, with a membership of over 25, are covered by the applicable requirements of the Equality Act 2010. This means they cannot discriminate, harass or victimise protected groups, as an employer, or in the provision of goods services and facilities, or as members or guests.
We would expect all bodies representing students in English universities to be clear that there is no place for anti-Semitism in higher education. They should be doing everything they can to tackle anti-Semitism as they would all forms of racism.
In response to growing concerns over hate crime Universities UK have established a Harassment Taskforce to consider further measures to address harassment on campus including religion and belief. Government has asked the UUK Taskforce to consider a number of specific actions in relation to anti-Semitism:
The need for an improved data collection of incidents by institution, to ensure Universities are recording incidents effectively;
The importance of a complaints process that protects the identity of students who are fearful of coming forward;
The need for better training to help University staff understand the different forms anti-Semitism can take.
The taskforce will provide a range of recommendations and actions in its report to ministers in the autumn.