Schools Islamophobia Training – East Renfrewshire Council
Categories: Past Event Articles
Friday September 30 2022
On Monday 12th September and Wednesday 14th September, MEND’s Linsay Taylor delivered training to teaching staff and council members from East Renfrewshire Council at Pre-School, Primary and Secondary levels. These sessions were a part of an exciting partnership with Educate Against Islamophobia (EAI) and MEND which brings together resources to help tackle Islamophobia in educational institutions.
The aim of the sessions delivered to schools in East Renfrewshire Council was to help staff to recognise the impact of Islamophobia on students and staff, as well as to identify ways in which the school community can reduce and tackle Islamophobia. While many are aware of the sad reality of verbal bullying and physical assault, Islamophobia may also present as micro-aggressions and unconscious bias. Therefore, this training emphasised the importance of teachers understanding the various ways in which Islamophobia can cause harm to the well-being of Muslim pupils and staff.
During the sessions provided for Pre-School teaching staff, participants were invited to explore the new teaching materials which have been developed by Educate Against Islamophobia (EAI), an organisation with which MEND works in partnership. This included a reading of a vibrant, illustrated storybook aimed at young learners. The story explained the first day of school for a young Muslim girl and her journey with fellow pupils to the realisation that everyone has aspects of their lives that are both similar and different to those around them. Feedback from those in attendance was positive as several teachers responded saying that they believed the teaching materials appeared both accessible and enjoyable for their pupils.
We would like to thank East Renfrewshire Council and Rukhsana Ali – Education Development Officer for this opportunity to connect with local schools, we would like to extend our thanks to all those who attended these sessions.
To learn more about the pioneering work of Educate Against Islamophobia (EAI) please check out the link below and follow them on Instagram: