The new school curriculum should include programmes dealing with racism and awareness of cultural identity, Senator Joe O'Toole, general secretary, Irish National Teachers' Organisation, has said. .
Yesterday was designated as a special day for schools to undertake educational activities related to the aims and objectives of the European Year Against Racism.
Mr O'Toole said teachers and school authorities had a duty to look at and be comfortable with the manner in which "culture" was presented and the attitudes towards minorities in schools. "Ireland must consider its immigration and refugee laws and assess our honesty and openness in the light of having to explain why `Ireland of the Welcomes' is in fact the `whitest' and most exclusive country in Europe," he said.
