"Book Curriculum in England Fails to Reflect Diversity"
A report from the Lit in Colour campaign group has found that despite some progress, the school curriculum in England remains woefully lacking in diversity. The number of texts by authors of colour on GCSE English literature exam boards has increased from 12% to 36% over the past five years, but it is still a far cry from representation.
The lack of diversity in the curriculum has been criticized by prominent author Bernardine Evaristo, who warns that young people are growing up in a society where "doors are closing" and the tide is turning against inclusion. Evaristo's comments come as the concept of diversity becomes increasingly under attack, with some institutions dismissing attempts to become more inclusive as "woke".
The report highlights that only 1.9% of GCSE pupils in England study books by authors of colour, up from 0.7% five years ago. It will take until 2046 for this figure to reach 10% and until 2115 for it to reach 38%. This lack of representation is particularly concerning given that 38% of pupils in English schools are from a minority ethnic background.
Evaristo welcomed the progress made by Lit in Colour but emphasized the need for more action. She noted that since the campaign launched, there has been a "noticeable willingness from many institutions to explore some of the barriers people of colour have had to face". However, this has seemed to be short-lived, with the concept of diversity once again facing threats.
The government has responded by stating that it will ensure the curriculum allows space for teachers to choose a wider range of texts and authors. While this is a step in the right direction, it is unclear whether this will have any real impact on increasing diversity in the curriculum.
In other news, bestselling author Lee Child has been named as the first prison reading laureate, highlighting the importance of improving literacy among prisoners to prevent reoffending. Child plans to expand a literacy pilot programme he has been running and invite more authors to participate.
A report from the Lit in Colour campaign group has found that despite some progress, the school curriculum in England remains woefully lacking in diversity. The number of texts by authors of colour on GCSE English literature exam boards has increased from 12% to 36% over the past five years, but it is still a far cry from representation.
The lack of diversity in the curriculum has been criticized by prominent author Bernardine Evaristo, who warns that young people are growing up in a society where "doors are closing" and the tide is turning against inclusion. Evaristo's comments come as the concept of diversity becomes increasingly under attack, with some institutions dismissing attempts to become more inclusive as "woke".
The report highlights that only 1.9% of GCSE pupils in England study books by authors of colour, up from 0.7% five years ago. It will take until 2046 for this figure to reach 10% and until 2115 for it to reach 38%. This lack of representation is particularly concerning given that 38% of pupils in English schools are from a minority ethnic background.
Evaristo welcomed the progress made by Lit in Colour but emphasized the need for more action. She noted that since the campaign launched, there has been a "noticeable willingness from many institutions to explore some of the barriers people of colour have had to face". However, this has seemed to be short-lived, with the concept of diversity once again facing threats.
The government has responded by stating that it will ensure the curriculum allows space for teachers to choose a wider range of texts and authors. While this is a step in the right direction, it is unclear whether this will have any real impact on increasing diversity in the curriculum.
In other news, bestselling author Lee Child has been named as the first prison reading laureate, highlighting the importance of improving literacy among prisoners to prevent reoffending. Child plans to expand a literacy pilot programme he has been running and invite more authors to participate.
i guess thats too much to ask for. 36% is still way below what i think is a decent representation of diversity. like, im all for making it easier for teachers to choose texts that reflect students lives but this feels like just a token effort. 2046 and 2115 to reach even 10%? that just feels like a cop out 
it's about time they sort out this curriculum, I mean what's the point of teaching history if you're not gonna include perspectives from people who actually lived through it? 
38% of kids are from minority ethnic backgrounds, that's a whole lotta people missing out on their own stories.
it's like we're trying to erase our own culture and experiences from history books... I feel so frustrated when I see authors like Bernardine Evaristo speaking out about this, it's just not fair that we have to fight for representation on our curriculum 
the government's response is a good start, but let's be real, it'll take a lot more than just giving teachers some wiggle room to make a change... I wish there was more urgency around this issue 
and I hope authors like Lee Child are paving the way for a more inclusive literary landscape 
? I'd say it's not just about increasing diversity in the curriculum, it's about representation and power. Who gets to decide what texts are taught and which ones aren't? It's like they're trying to erase entire communities from history books. We need more than just tokenistic gestures, we need systemic change. And what's with this 'woke' label? Isn't that just code for 'we're not being challenged enough'? I'd say the government's response is weak sauce – just throwing teachers a bone without actually addressing the root issues. What we need is a comprehensive overhaul of our education system to prioritize inclusivity and equity. Anything less is just window dressing 
36% might sound like a lot but trust me it's still whack 1.9% of students reading books by authors of colour is just crazy 
... Like, come on England, can't you do better than that? 1.9% of students reading books by authors of colour is just laughable 
and what's the big deal about teachers choosing their own texts anyway? it's not like they're forcing kids to read books by people who don't look like them or anything 
. let's just focus on getting more diverse texts out there and less drama around it, ya feel me? 
. bernardine evaristo is right, this lack of inclusion is driving a wedge between young people and society. schools need to be more proactive about incorporating diverse texts into the curriculum ASAP 
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