Racism is a “learned behaviour” which must be stamped out in Jersey, the Education Minister has told Express, after new figures showed suspensions for racist incidents in Jersey schools were rising.
A response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Law revealed that the the number of instances where the reason a child had been excluded from school for “racist abuse” had more than doubled over the past four academic years, rising from 10 in 2020/2021, up to 27 in 2024/2025.
Charities Liberate and Friends of Africa – which champion equality, diversity and cultural awareness – told Express in a joint statement that it was “concerning to see a rise of racism reported in educational settings”.
“In line with our discrimination legislation and the UN Rights of the Child, all children and young people have a right to feel safe and free from discrimination,” they continued.
“Acts of racism violate the rights of children and adults in educational settings.
“We encourage the schools, families and the wider community to come together to tackle such behaviours by calling it out, working together to ensure understanding of the harm caused by such behaviours, and facilitating a culture of respect and active inclusion for all members of our diverse and vibrant community.”
Education Minister Rob Ward said the matter was being taken seriously.
Speaking to Express yesterday, Deputy Ward stressed his view that “any incident is one too many”.
“We don’t want to see it happening in our schools,” he continued. “Jersey is a better place than that.”
We all have a part to play to ensure that they [children] don’t learn that behaviour
Deputy Rob Ward
Adding that racism was a “learned behaviour”, Deputy Ward continued: “We all have a part to play to ensure that they [children] don’t learn that behaviour.
“We are an inclusive, caring society.”
Concerns about racial abuse within public settings extends beyond Education – for some years, Health has been seeking to resolve the issue of racist abuse directed towards staff from both patients and, in some instances, their own colleagues.
It emerged earlier this year that there had been a 480% rise in racially motivated assaults on health staff in the last five years – with five racially motivated assaults recorded on health staff in 2020, rising to 29 in 2024.
In early 2024, a staff survey completed by 88 Health workers showed that more than half had experienced racism from patients.
Around two-thirds of these said they were not satisfied with the way it had been dealt with.
The findings prompted the launch of an anti-racism campaign later that year.
Intended to “call out” and “challenge” the abuse, the campaign also sought to provide support for those experiencing racism, a review of policies and procedures, and collaboration with other government departments, including the police, to help combat the problem.