The JRC Education Advisory Group (EAG) held an excellent meeting with Lord John Mann, the Government’s Independent Advisor on Antisemitism.

He congratulated the EAG on its work in teaching about Jewish life and practice, the Holocaust and antisemitism.  However, there are many areas of the country in which only a few Jewish people live and therefore a national system to combat antisemitism in education is very much needed.  Lord Mann wishes to see teaching about contemporary antisemitism given to all trainee teachers in the first year of their course at Initial Teacher Training Institutions.  This would be followed up by subject special work on the teaching of contemporary antisemitism, resulting in all new teachers entering schools with a good knowledge of contemporary antisemitism and how to deal with it in a classroom situation.

Each school year group would receive lessons on contemporary antisemitism.

There have been great improvements in the way that UK universities have handled potentially difficult incidents affecting Jewish students, due to working proactively with the Union of Jewish Students.  Ninety-nine percent of universities have signed the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Lord Mann was recently in the USA, explaining to the US Government about the vital work of the CST in preventing the type of terrorism against our communities that is prevalent in parts of Europe.

***Please see HERE the Attribution Licence conditions relating to the UK Parliament official portrait of Lord Mann used here**