PROFESSOR Charlotte Williams OBE has been appointed by the Welsh
Government to lead a new working group to advise on and improve the
teaching of themes relating to Black, Asian and minority ethnic
communities and experiences across all parts of the school curriculum.
Professor Williams accepted an invitation from the Education
Minister, Kirsty Williams, to chair the new ‘Communities, contributions
and cynefin: BAME experiences and the new curriculum’ working group.
In
2007, Professor Williams was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s
Honours List for services to ethnic minorities and equal opportunities
in Wales.
Professor Williams said: “I’m delighted and honoured to be
leading the working group in advancing this step-change towards
integrating Black and minority ethnic history, identity and culture into
the everyday learning of every child in Wales. The goal is that the new
curriculum will become a shining example of resourcing and enabling
broad engagement in learning and teaching with BAME contributions past
and present.
“The challenge is to ensure that Black and minority
ethnic peoples have a presence across the new Welsh curriculum so that
within all of the Areas of Learning and Experience we can hear the sound
of their voices, know of their experience, history and contributions,
past and present.
“This requires appropriate resourcing because we
want all teachers in Wales to be able to rethink their materials and
feel confident in the ways of delivering them to reflect this presence.
It’s a very exciting prospect. In this way, our curriculum in Wales will
ultimately be reflective of our common experience of a vibrant,
inclusive, multicultural society.
“We have a rich history in Wales, built on difference and diversity.
“This
isn’t about adding an element of Black and minority ethnic history here
and there in the new curriculum, but about reimagining learning and
teaching across all the elements of the curriculum so that it reflects a
Wales that is, and always has been, ethnically diverse,
internationalist in its outlook and progressive in its aspirations.”
The
First Minister, Mark Drakeford, said: “Our diversity is one of our
strengths as a nation and our many histories have combined to shape
Wales today.
“I’m delighted Professor Williams will be leading this
important piece of work and I look forward to seeing the group’s
recommendations.
“The working group will complete a review of
learning resources currently available to support the teaching of themes
relating to BAME communities and ‘cynefin’ across all parts of the
curriculum. The group will also review associated professional learning
opportunities and resources. The group will be closely aligned to the
review of Welsh history by Estyn, the education inspectorate.
“The
Welsh word ‘cynefin’ loosely translates as ‘habitat’ or ‘place’, but
also conveys a sense that all human interactions are strongly influenced
and determined by both personal and collective experiences, such as
through stories or music.”
The group will present their initial findings in the autumn, and a full report in the spring.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “I’m very pleased Professor Williams has agreed to chair the working group.
“I look forward to receiving the group’s recommendations on learning
resources to support the teaching of themes relating to BAME
communities.
“Wales is made up of a multitude of stories. We must
understand and analyse our own cynefin, and make those connections
across our communities, nation and the world. It isn’t just about
history as a subject, it’s language, literature, geography, and so much
more.”
The group will oversee the development of new learning
resources in advance of the phased introduction of the new Curriculum
for Wales in 2022.
Add Comment