Ethnic diversity 'helps minority pupils'

TdaNews Direct
Published: 24 July, 2008

Attending an ethnically diverse school may benefit minority pupils from an early age, according to one expert.

Research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council has found that the ethnic composition of classrooms in primary education has an effect on children's attitudes towards race later in life.

Professor Rupert Brown, who led the study, said: "Teachers' observations revealed that children with an integrationist outlook, particularly those who were first-generation immigrants, were more likely to be 'teary' and show other symptoms of social anxiety than children who were solely focused on their own heritage."

He added that the children who experienced social anxiety as a result of their heritage were also more prone to suffering at the hands of racial discrimination.

The study was conducted over a year and took into account interviews with teachers at 20 Sussex and Kent schools, as well as questionnaires filled out by education professionals.

In related news, the BBC reports that data compiled by pressure group Edge has revealed that vocational qualifications have nearly doubled in the UK.