Fifers demand Britain's colonial past is taught in schools

Over 800 Fifers have signed a petition calling for Britain’s colonial history to become part of the school curriculum.

A campaign group of sixth form students say the Government is denying their generation the tools to “dismantle systemic racism” by not mandating teaching about the Empire in schools.

So far, 813 people across four Fife constituencies have signed a petition calling for MPs to change the curriculum. The breakdown is : Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath: 135; Dunfermline and West Fife: 215; North East Fife: 280, and 83 in Glenrothes.

The petition on Parliament’s website, created by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, amassed 234,000 signatures in its first week, meaning it will be considered for a debate in Westminster.

It wants to create a “far more inclusive curriculum” by making education compulsory on topics such as Britain’s role in colonisation and the transatlantic slave trade.

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It states “Colonial powers must own up to their pasts by raising awareness of the forced labour of black people, past and present mistreatment of BAME people, and most importantly, how this contributes to the unfair systems of power at the foundation of our modern society.”

The death of American George Floyd while in police custody reinvigorated Black Lives Matter protests throughout the UK, and sparked public debate on the nation’s history as a colonial empire.

Fill In The Blanks, a group of sixth form students from south London which supports the petition, had been campaigning for a more “honest” curriculum before the latest global protests began.

The group, formed in August 2019, say it is “fundamentally inadequate” that students can leave the education system without learning about the British Empire.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “Schools already play a significant role in teaching children about the importance of respect and tolerance.

“Black history is an important topic which schools can teach to children of all ages as part of the history curriculum.”

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