Education Inequalities – Rachel Hogan

Prejudice-based bullying in education is a persistent problem for certain equality groups. Alan Meban visited Lina Zeimiene at the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme. Lina works with minority ethnic young people, including Travellers, who experience racially motivated bullying. They discussed the effects of bullying and how it can be addressed by parents, teachers and government.

We know that prejudice-based bullying in education is a persistent problem for certain equality groups. Discussing the type of bullying seen among young people, its effects, and what needs done to address it, broadcaster Maggie Taggart is joined by Jo McParland from Cara Friend who works with young people experiencing LGBT motivated bullying. Presenting the Commission’s view is policy officer, Aisha O’Reilly, who shares what ECNI wants to see for wider equality groups and what schools can do to help with this problem. This series of podcasts looks in more detail at some of those areas. Subscribe to hear the whole series, or check out previous podcasts at https://equalityni.org/podcasts

How will the 2021 Addressing Bullying in Schools Act help address prejudice-based bullying and challenge stereotypes in schools? Dr Noel Purdy, Director of Research and Scholarship & Head of Education Studies at Stranmillis University College – he’s also Director of CREU (the Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement) – tells broadcaster Maggie Taggart how the Act will make a difference for young people’s protection against discrimination and prejudice-based bullying, and how we’ll know if the Act is working. They are joined by Aisha O’Reilly, policy officer with ECNI, who shares the Commission’s view on what needs to happen next, including the role of schools. This series of podcasts looks in more detail at some of those areas. Subscribe to hear the whole series, or check out previous podcasts at https://equalityni.org/podcasts

How can we address prejudice-based bullying and challenge stereotypes in education? Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum co-ordinator Aoife Nic Colaim tells broadcaster Maggie Taggart about the work of the Forum in tackling this problem. She outlines the achievements of the forum and is joined by three members of the Forum’s Young Person Advisory Group, Christo, Lorcan and Sean, who explain why they got involved in the Forum and why they see it as important to promote an anti-bullying culture in schools. Policy officer Aisha O’Reilly explains why the Equality Commission is interested in prejudice-based bullying and what it wants to see schools doing to tackle prejudice-based bullying and challenge stereotypes. This series of podcasts looks in more detail at some of those areas. Subscribe to hear the whole series, or check out previous podcasts at https://equalityni.org/podcasts

Would a Single Equality Act be the answer to Northern Ireland’s sagging patchwork of equality laws? Barrister Catherine Casserley of Cloisters, London tells broadcaster Maggie Taggart about the opportunities for Northern Ireland to lead the world with new legislation. She also outlines some of the lessons of Great Britain’s Equality Act 2010. And Kathryn McNickle, ECNI’s Senior Policy Officer, explains why the Commission advocates the move to a Single Equality Act. The Equality Commission is recommending a Single Equality Act for Northern Ireland and, in the meantime, some fixes for specific pieces of legislation. This series of podcasts looks in more detail at some of those areas and what can be done to improve protection against discrimination in Northern Ireland. Subscribe to hear the whole series, or check out previous podcasts at https://equalityni.org/podcasts