We conclude our education series re-affirming the limitations (if not dangers) of the school system with regards to our children. (1) However, there is simply insufficient capacity at the moment to cater for our children exclusively outside of the system, compelling us to engage with it at different levels to safeguard them.

This support takes different forms but has as its basis recognising the humanity of our children.   From we need to deploy resources and programmes to facilitate the manifestation of their natural genius. This includes acknowledging (and combatting) the impact of racism within the school as well as the currents that propagate the ‘school to prison pipeline.’ Ensuring that the resources respectfully reflect the culture of our children to enable them to stand tall and be themselves.

(1) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (28/09/20) Lockdown, Schools & Black Children: What’s Our Agenda? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/lockdown-schools-black-children-whats-our-agenda-210920/

We ask the question:

Are UK schools safe places for our children?

1) How do we ensure our children’s emotional well-being at school?

2) Does the school system recognise their humanity?

3) Do the resources do we need to address this currently exist?

4) What kind of engagement should the community have with schools to safeguard our children?

Our special Guests:

Sis. Enomwoyi Damali: is a mother of four who qualified with a first-class degree in 1985 and has worked as a primary teacher and an educational psychologist ever since. Her passion is on helping children develop personal development skills that will enable them to become grounded, positive, confident, proud adults. She loved writing stories as a child and this has continued into adulthood. To date she has published two books with sixteen more in the pipeline. All feature Nzingha and her friends in Amber Class and their teacher, Mrs Adisa. She asserts that it was essential that her lead character as well as the class teacher was of African heritage as this representation is sorely lacking in children’s literature. Sis. Enomwoyi’s vision is to develop our children as PEOPLE, working together and finding solutions to centuries of oppression, disadvantage, and systemic and institutional racism.

Sis. Krystal Rubie: is a mother of two who is a psychology graduate and a high school science teacher of fifteen years.  Sis. Krystal is Black History enthusiast.