BC minister of education Rob Fleming has brought together community leaders from a wide range of groups to better understand the impact of racism on BC students and provide input into strengthening and developing new policies and programs that promote anti-racism, according to a Ministry of Education media release.
"Now is the time to listen, learn, engage and act," stated Fleming. "We are committed to working with community and education partners to build a meaningful and lasting anti-racism action plan to ensure schools are safe and welcoming places where diversity is celebrated."
A new Community Roundtable on Anti-Racism in education, the first in a series of conversations to guide the ministry and BC education partners in understanding barriers faced by Indigenous students and students of colour, held its first meeting on Friday, July 24. According to the ministry, it has been created to support development of an anti-racism action plan and strengthen the K-12 curriculum, ensuring the culture, beliefs and ancestry of all students and staff are accepted, celebrated and understood.
Fleming has asked the First Nations Leadership Council, the First Nations Education Steering Committee and Métis Nation BC to help set up a distinct Indigenous table and co-develop its approach, according to the release. A new student advisory group will also be formed in the fall to hear directly from students on their experiences.
"Through this roundtable, we are hopeful for a more inclusive tomorrow by supporting students, families and educators today," stated Anne Kang, minister of citizens' services and responsible for multiculturalism. "By listening and learning from the experiences of others we can all work together to build an environment that is understanding and respectful of our differences."
The Community Roundtable on Anti-Racism in education builds on a series of community dialogues led by Ravi Kahlon, former parliamentary secretary for sport and multiculturalism, last summer. The feedback from these meetings informed the development of Resilience BC, a provincewide anti-racism network announced in November 2019. Resilience BC is being established in 40 communities.
"There is no place for racism, discrimination or intolerance in British Columbia - in our schools or anywhere else," stated premier John Horgan. "We are bringing important voices to the table to help us bolster culture-based learning in the education system and build a better and more inclusive future for BC."
