One in four minority ethnic students surveyed said they experience racism at least once a month, with most reporting incidents occurring once a week or more.
Publishing a report based on its survey, the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) has called for clear and accessible reporting mechanisms in schools to address racist incidents as they happen, reports RTE.
The ISSU said it is the largest study ever conducted on racism in Irish secondary schools, with 3,655 students taking part.
The study was commissioned by the ISSU and co-authored by researchers Dr Gordon Ogutu and Dr Lucy Michael, alongside former ISSU Equality Officer Bel Aghedo, reports RTE.
The survey revealed that many racist incidents go unreported due to students’ fear of reprisal, doubts about effective intervention, and a belief that incidents are not taken seriously.
“Minority ethnic students were more likely than other students to consider that reporting incidents would make the situation worse,” the report states, reports RTE.
Only 15% of students said they had reported racist incidents they witnessed, representing students from a range of ethnic backgrounds. Many highlighted concerns about the casual use of racial slurs and the absence of consequences for racist behaviour in schools.
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The union said the findings demonstrate that racism negatively affects minority ethnic students’ self-esteem and sense of belonging, reports RTE.
“Many minority ethnic students reported feeling excluded and not fully accepted as Irish, despite being born in Ireland or having citizenship,” the report said.
It criticised schools for inadequate responses, which “exacerbates the issue”, reports RTE.
The ISSU called for action, noting that “many teachers and school staff lack training in multicultural education and addressing discrimination. There are no official records of peer-to-peer racist incidents in Irish schools, and statistics on racial discrimination by school staff against students are not collected by any statutory organisation.
“This lack of data collection impedes responses to the problem,” reports RTE.
Students taking part in the survey called for greater awareness and education on racism, including comprehensive discussions on what constitutes racism and clear guidance on reporting incidents.
The ISSU also called for a more inclusive school culture that celebrates diversity and respects cultural differences, reports RTE.
“This includes creating an environment where all students feel valued and accepted, regardless of their racial or ethnic background,” it said.
“We hope to see nationwide action to address the findings of our research,” ISSU Equality Officer Valeriia Stepanenko said, reports RTE.
“The evidence is clear, students need clear and accessible reporting mechanisms for racist incidents when they occur,” reports RTE.
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