The city of Brussels reasserted its position against racism in schools in a statement on Friday, following a joint letter in which pupils of the Paul Henri Spaak Institute in Laeken denounced racist remarks by a teacher at the beginning of January.
“We condemn any racist, anti-Semitic or discriminatory attitude or comment and have been raising awareness for many years among our staff and pupils with the aim of combating the persistent and degrading stereotypes that persist in our society,” Brussels alderman for public education, Faouzia Hariche, said in the press release.
Hariche did not comment on the particular case, stating that it was a disciplinary matter. She pointed out that the city of Brussels offers education open to all, without discrimination, and actively fights against all forms of discrimination, dualisation and determinism.
To this end, the city's schools offer various actions and projects to raise teachers’ awareness of these issues, she said, including guided visits to the African Museum or the Jewish Museum of Belgium, plays on colonies or on the journey of immigrants, and poster competitions against racism.
