The province has launched a new Anti-Racism Action Plan to combat racism in schools.

“We know that Indigenous, Black and people of colour may face inequity within the education system,” said Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care.

“This action plan is a critical step forward for students, educators, staff and families as we all work to create school communities that feel welcoming and supportive for people of all backgrounds.”

The Ministry of Education and Child Care will provide new training opportunities for all school staff to help them better understand their role in fostering anti-racist school environments. The action plan will also empower students and staff to identify biases and address acts of racism or discrimination with new incident-response guidelines.

The action plan will support school districts in their commitment to anti-racism initiatives in their school communities.

The action plan was developed through discussions over three years with students, rightsholders and Indigenous partners, education partners, educators, and staff, as well as community organizations.

All school districts and independent schools are required to have codes of conduct and policies to address racism and discrimination.