Almost one in five students at Flemish secondary schools indicate that they have already experienced racism at school. This is evident today from a large-scale survey by the Flemish Schools Association, conducted among more than 10,000 students.
Just under 70 percent of the students surveyed have never experienced any form of racism in secondary school. Almost one in five students (18 percent) indicates that they have already experienced racist things. For students with parents from countries outside the European Union, that percentage even rises to 49 percent.
“These are very high figures,” says Lore Sleeckx, chairman of the Flemish Schools Association. “It should not be that high: a school should be a safe and pleasant environment for all students.”
To turn the tide, the School Association proposes some ideas. For example, the umbrella organization asks that students be allowed to attend the class council. “We know from research that, if there is a doubt about certification, young people with a migration background more often receive a B certificate than young people without a migration background,” says Sleeckx. “If students are allowed to sit at the table themselves, the decision-making system becomes more transparent: any prejudices among teachers can be avoided.”
Feedback
If it is not possible to include students in the class council, Sleeckx asks for a written report of the discussion to be drawn up and distributed to the students involved. “In this way, the students receive more feedback about how they are experienced at school by the teaching team,” says the School Association chairman.
The umbrella organization also sees merit in a more diverse teaching force to combat racism. “If every student can recognize themselves in a teacher, that is a step in the right direction.”
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