Equality of Access for Pupils from Minority Ethnic Communities

workshops by Pratima Patel Presented in March 2000

Inclusion, Disability, Racism & SEN:

Implications of MacPherson Report for Education Policy & Practice in Scotland.

Presentation by Fernando Almeida Diniz, Department of Equity Studies & Special Education, University of Edinburgh

1. Social Inclusion &'Race' in Scottish Education

2. Race & Disability/SEN

3. Black-led Community Voluntary Sector Provision

KEY IMPLICATIONS OF MACPHERSON

1. RE-CONCEPTUALISATION

• INSTITUTIONAL RACISM
• CENTRALITY OF BLACK IDENTITY & PARTICIPATION
• INVISIBILITY OF 'RACE' in 'SOCIAL INCLUSION' DISCOURSE

2. SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION:

• REPRESENTATION
• HOLISTIC & PARTICIPATIVE APPROACH
• INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES, ETHOS & CULTURES
• PROFESSIONAL 'TERRITORIES' & 'NORMS'

SYSTEMIC BARRIERS & OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION

1 : RE-CONCEPTUALISATION

• Invisibility of 'Race' in 'Social Inclusion' Discourse

  2: INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES, ETHOS & CULTURE

• Schooling & Curriculum Experience:
  Paper policies on EO
  Multiculturalism = 'bilingualism'
  Racism unacknowledged or underplayed or bolted on
  Professional Resistance
  Educational Research is 'Colour-Blind'

• Black Participation & Representation
  Curriculum Policy formulation & action
  Decisionmaking procedures concerning children
  School Boards & PTAs, other 'fora'
  Professionals at all levels & sectors
  
• Racial Equality Assurance
  No National Indicators of Minimal Standards
  National Ethnic monitoring non-existent
  Scottish HMI/Ed Management 'all white perspective'

'SOCIAL INCLUSION'

An Inclusive Society for 'All Scots'

Competing Discourses:

• Identity - Who is and is not Scot! Other identities?
• Nationalism - Who is a 'real Scot'!
• Culture - Whose? Who defines? 'Bravehearts and Bangra'!
• Language - Which ones?
• Creed- Sectarianism? Islamophobia?
• Racism - Invisible
• Ethnicity - A label for Third World people?
• Impairment - Disability - SEN - Consensus?

  WHOSE VOICE?

  Assimilation? Mainstreaming? Inclusion?

  Equality of access