Ethnic minority teaching conference
23 February 2010
North West Universities join forces to shape the future for black and ethnic minority teachers.
Merseyside universities hosted a conference recently to highlight the importance of recruiting and retaining black and minority ethnic trainee teachers in the North West region.
The 'Black and Minority Recruitment and Retention Conference' was the first conference of the work conducted by the Merseyside Black and Minority Ethnic Steering Group - collaboration between Liverpool Hope University, LJMU, Edge Hill University, The University of Chester and The Merseyside and Cheshire Graduate Teacher Programme Consortium.
It also included representation from Merseyside community groups with school-based input all of which work collaboratively to encourage the recruitment and retention of black and minority ethnic trainee teachers.
Conference organiser Amina Ismail, who is also Black and Minority Ethnic Recruitment Advisor for Liverpool Hope University and LJMU said: “It is important that young people are educated and inspired by teachers that reflect the communities that they come from.”
The conference itself looked at barriers, perceptions and existing work that is being done, in addition to the importance of sharing good practice across all individuals and partner organisations, who recognise that having a diverse teaching population is at the heart of promoting cultural awareness and providing inspirational role models to young people.
Pav Akhtar, Head of Diversity at the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) delivered the keynote address. Pav said: “In England 23.3 per cent of all primary school pupils and 20.6 per cent of all secondary school pupils are of black or minority ethnic (BME) heritage. At the same time, 5.9 per cent of teachers are of BME heritage. Increased recruitment of BME teachers is important to ensure white and BME pupils benefit from a more balanced representation of society and the experience of teachers from diverse groups."
The Merseyside Steering Group will continue to work with community groups, schools and other partners to in collaboration in order to raise awareness and aspirations in relation to teaching as a career.
If you require any further information or advice on the support available to individuals from BME communities please contact Amina Ismail on telephone: 0151 231 5340 or email: a.ismail@ljmu.ac.uk
