Northern Ireland

Up to a quarter of primary school pupils not represented in books after curriculum falls behind demographic changes

Orla McKeating and Anna Leckey co-founded Still I Rise Diversity Story Telling
Orla McKeating and Anna Leckey co-founded Still I Rise Diversity Story Telling Orla McKeating and Anna Leckey co-founded Still I Rise Diversity Story Telling

UP to one in four pupils in primary schools are not seeing themselves represented in books due to a failure of the curriculum to adapt to changing demographics, campaigners have warned.

Orla McKeating and Anna Leckey, who co-founded `Still I Rise Diversity Story Telling', are today meeting education officials to discuss making Northern Ireland's curriculum more diverse.

Their initiative to share children's stories featuring ethnic minority characters aims to promoted diversity in the books being read by children to "encourage diversity, tolerance, acceptance".

They will share their insights with Department of Education officials and press for the model to be used in schools throughout the north.

The pair said statistics show an increasing number of primary schools have as many as 25 per cent of pupils from minority ethnic groups, with the `mixed-race' category the "fastest growing in Ireland" - leading to calls for the curriculum to be diversified.

Ms McKeating, who is the mother of a mixed-race son, and Ms Leckey believe it should be a requirement for schools to read books that have diverse characters or celebrate differences, otherwise "that's 32 per cent of the classroom that aren't seeing themselves represented".

"I believe our story sessions could be something that would bring a huge amount of value to educational support for schools and communities, facilitate how schools approach diverse development and teaching and to build capacity for meeting cultural development needs," Ms McKeating said.

"This could benefit more inclusion of pupils from different backgrounds within the integrated schools and strengthen the platform for support in schools that historically have a more singular belief approach."

They founded Still I Rise Diversity Storytelling in 2019 to `read books together from all over the world celebrating diversity, tolerance, acceptance and to encourage open minds and hearts'.

During lockdown it has had twice-weekly online meet-ups with children from all over the world reading "on issues that may be more difficult to talk about, empathy and moving country, kind and inclusive language, diverse family structures, male mental health, stories in sign, emotional well-being, caring for our planet, love is love and Black Lives Matter".

They also provide workshops for children between the ages of four and 11.

"We have worked with Syrian teenagers sharing stories, experiences and ideas in a safe learning space," Ms McKeating said.

"Working with a counsellor who specialises in trauma during the sessions, we saw massive impact on thoughts, behaviours and open dialogue within a very short time."

Among the guests at these sessions were Belfast-born author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers, award winning actor and author Nathan Bryon and Syrian writer Nadine Kaadan.

Ms McKeating said recent work with "a number of schools in England... it reminds us that we want to create change in Northern Ireland.

"We have seen the positive impact our sessions can have during a period of six weeks soft skills monitoring.

This month, schools in north Belfast are taking part in the Trek (Truth, Respect, Empathy and Kindness) initiative designed to promote good relations in the area.

Supported by the Housing Executive it focuses on `celebrating diversity and promoting inclusivity'.