We continue our education series. As our children try and settle in to a new school year, the government are already contemplating another “lockdown” amid reports of sharp increases in Covid-19 cases. (1)  While school is challenging enough (and not necessarily in good way) for many Afrikan children (2), there are grave concerns they’ll feel the brunt of any Covid induced school regulations from social interactions up to vaccinations, even though the government currently denies there’ll be consequences for refusing the latter. (3)

But for some parents what schools do is rather less consequential as they have, seeing how beneficial the ‘involuntary homeschooling’ experience has been, opted to continue teaching their children at home, although thus far, exact figures are hard to come by. (4)

Moreover, Afrikan parents and the community at large cannot afford to rely on the UK government and it’s seemingly relentless mixed messaging, we need to proactive (5) The form and format of this proactivity is the pressing concern.

(1) Michael Le Page, Clare Wilson, Jessica Hamzelou , Adam Vaughan , Conrad Quilty-Harper and Layal Liverpool (18/09/20) Covid-19 news: UK government won’t rule out second national lockdown. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-uk-government-wont-rule-out-second-national-lockdown/#ixzz6YU42WyG5

(2) Gov.uk (20/04/20) Maths results for 6 to 7 year olds. https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/education-skills-and-training/5-to-7-years-old/mathematics-attainments-for-children-aged-5-to-7-key-stage-1/latest; Gov.uk (13/05/20) Maths results for 10 to 11 year olds. https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/education-skills-and-training/7-to-11-years-old/maths-attainments-for-children-aged-7-to-11-key-stage-2/latest.

(3) Department of Health and Social Care (11/09/20) Petition: Prevent any restrictions on those who refuse a Covid-19 vaccination. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/323442?fbclid=IwAR2TB8bWjjvpbp8WnQC_MoF-exncaDPI0spSMa05H_op2H6LdLLloTPgszk

(4) Amy Fleming (19/09/20) ‘Seeing my son’s development was incredible’: the parents sticking with home schooling beyond lockdown. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/sep/19/seeing-my-sons-development-was-incredible-the-parents-sticking-with-home-schooling-beyond-lockdown#:~:text=Home%20schooling-,’Seeing%20my%20son’s%20development%20was%20incredible’%3A%20the%20parents%20sticking,with%20home%20schooling%20beyond%20lockdown&text=For%20these%20families%2C%20lockdown%20provided,creative%2C%20engaged%20better%20with%20learning.

(5) Samuel Lovett (09/09/20) Mixed messages, U-turns and ‘massaged’ figures: A timeline of the UK’s coronavirus testing system. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-testing-covid-19-test-centre-latest-update-b421178.html

We ask the question:

Lockdown, Schools & Black Children: What’s Our Agenda?

1) Has Covid-19 made you wary of children returning back to school?

2) Are you more concerned about safety or school overreach?

3) Are you one of those parents that decided not to send their child(ren) back”?

4) What can we proactively do as a collective to benefit our children’s education?

Our special Guest:

Sis. Cheryl Phoenix:  is an award winning Business woman, Mother, Philanthropist and Speaker.  She is also founder and CEO of the Black Child Agenda a national organisation that campaigns for parents to galvanize support against illegal exclusions & racism in UK Schools tackling the Schools to prison Pipeline. It supports parents and young people up and down the UK with issues surrounding institutionally racist, unfair and bias treatment of Black Children.  Sis. Cheryl’s career began in the corporate world of the city in the media, Business development and sustainability markets, which lead her to global events organising.  She sat on the board of the London Development Agencies BME grant awarding body, and was part of the panel which secured funds to BME Businesses within the M25 area.  Sis Cheryl maintains her extensive media connection and appears regularly on the BBC and is often featured in the Guardian & Telegraph.  Sis. Cheryl is a board member of the Bridge Park Community Council Steering Group (BPCC).

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement, Afrikan-Centered Education Consultant and national co-Chair of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament.  Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of nearly 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.