Education officials discuss race plan
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Your support makes all the difference.The only member of Asian origin of Bradford's policy-forming education committee warned yesterday that the city expected "radical solutions" to ethnic segregation.
Hamayan Arshad was speaking during a discussion on a draft strategy for improved post-16 education that highlighted the poor performance of those of Pakistani origin. The Independent reported yesterday that the document recommended the introduction of the first ethnic ratios in a British classroom through a policy ensuring that "no school has a pupil population from one culture making up more than 75 per cent".
The city's Education and Performance Partnership said yesterday that the inflammatory word "quota" – used in a draft of the same strategy – would not form part of the final document, although it was unclear whether the ratios would stay. Mr Arshad, a school governor, said: "Quota is an emotive word but there is an expectation that there is going to be some very radical policy. Making the statement that we oppose [the word quota] does not satisfy that demand."
Jane Rendle, the teacher's representative on the EPP, supported him. "Just rejecting the word 'quota' is too bold a statement. We ought to say that we take this issue very seriously and will be looking for solutions," she said.
Brian Sanderson, the chairman of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which is co-ordinating the strategy, said he regretted the draft had leaked. He said: "I would like to make it absolutely clear that the LSC and partners reject outright the introduction of race quotas in schools, both because they are unlawful under the 1976 Race Relations Act and more importantly because they do not offer any solution to the very complex issues."
An updated draft of the document has now been produced, but the LSC would shed no light on how much social engineering it recommends to end segregation, widely seen as an importanty contributor to last summer's race riots. The LSC draft also argues for a "review of catchment area boundaries with a view to ensuring greater interaction between different ethnic groups of young people".
The draft says the post-16 curriculum is too "Eurocentric"; that Muslim teacher retention must be increased by 50 per cent in the next five years; and that the educational achievement of ethnic minorities must be improved.
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