THE fight to stamp out racism is being given top priority in Bury schools.

Ahead of many councils in the country, Bury is to launch its new education service racial harassment policy next month.

The March 10 conference will feature a range of workshops and guest speakers, including Dr Krashenik from the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Archive, a Manchester organisation set up in memory of a child murdered during a racist attack at a Manchester school ten years ago.

Bury was one of the first in the country to adopt the Commission for Racial Equality's "Young and Equal" standard just over a year ago. Further moves have come since the findings of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry were made public. Councillor Andrea Hughes, chairman of Bury Council's lifelong learning, pointed to a seminar for young people on the theme of Young and Equal which attracted 140 students.

"That gave young people in our borough a chance to put their views forward and make a difference in helping to promote race equality," she said.

"That was followed in May last year by the setting up of a working group to respond to the recommendations of the Lawrence Inquiry and that has since devised a new racial harassment policy and guidance for schools.

"Also being established is a monitoring system to ensure that all incidents of racial harassment are recorded. In addition, a need has been identified for a comprehensive training programme for all school staff."

All local schools will be provided with copies of a new CRE handbook called "Standards for Racial Equality in Schools".

Bury is also to hold a race equality resources fair on May 8 in association with the Northern Association of Support Services for Equality and Achievement. Teachers from Bury and across the north of England will be able to buy material from publishers and distributors.

Coun Hughes added: "Young people are our future and we are doing everything we can to ensure that their future is one in which racism and racial harassment are eradicated."

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