Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has told MPs testimonials from Jewish students on the impact of rising antisemitism on UK campuses have guided government moves to ensure universities become places where all students “feel safe, respected and are able to thrive.”
Pressed by Conservative MP Jack Rankin to the impact of a recent report on the growing problem around anti-Jewish racism, Phillipson also said it was now “more important than ever was the case” that school children were taught about the Holocaust in lessons.
Rankin raised the recent Stand With US UK’s Vice of Students report at Monday’s Education Questions session in the Commons, the Labour cabinet minister said:”A week ago today I brought together university vice chancellors and community leaders to hear testimonials from Jewish students, and to discuss next steps to ensure a safer, more inclusive campus for all of our students.”
She added:”No students should be subjected to antisemtism at university campuses or in any place in our university system. ”
Bridget Phllipson
Phillipson repeated the government’s commitment of £7million funding to address antisemitism in education, saying £500,000 had been allocated to the University Jewish Chaplaincy to support welfare on campuses.
She added this funding runs “alongside a new condition of registration for the Office for Students that will make sure we protect students from harassment and from discrimination.”
Phillipson, who paid tribute to the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust, added the government had, ahead of the conclusion of a national curriculum review, given a commitment that “all of our young people learn and understand the lessons of the Holocaust” adding this was “more important now than was ever the case.”
Last week the Union of Jewish Students said they had urged to the government to turn promises to tackle the issue into action. Universities urged to act against Jew-hate at ‘wake up call’ meeting
