New steps to promote anti-racism through qualifications
Thursday 30 January 2025
SQA has announced changes to the language used in its geography, history and classical studies courses as part of its work to promote anti-racism through education.
The changes are a response to concerns raised by learners and teachers about language which reflects outdated views of enslavement, colonialism and race.
They form part of the wider Anti-Racism in Education Programme (AREP), which is being marked today by a Scottish Government summit led by the First Minister.
Examples of the changes SQA has made include:
- The terms ‘enslaved person’ or ‘enslaved African’ replaces ‘slave’, while ‘enslaved Africans’ fight for freedom’ replaces ‘slave rebellion.’
- The ‘impact of individual Scots on their new countries’ replaces ‘contribution of individual Scots to their new countries’
- The term ‘informal housing’ or ‘informal housing settlement’ replaces ‘shanty town’
- 'Indigenous Americans’ replaces ‘Native American tribes’.
These modifications are critical first steps of wider work across the education community to embed anti-racism and to decolonise the curriculum.
The Education Youth Ambassadors at Intercultural Youth Scotland stated: “We are very happy to see that SQA has responded to the concerns that we, and many other young people of colour, have raised, by taking direct action to change language in the history, geography, and classical studies exams. We look forward to further developments that take a deeper look at the exams and embed anti-racism across all subjects within the Scottish curriculum."
John Booth, Director of Communications at SQA, said: “Education has a critical role to play in tackling racism and promoting an anti-racist culture in our society. Attitudes and beliefs are shaped in part by what is taught in schools and therefore it is essential that we do everything we can to ensure our assessments and qualifications promote a clear, positive message that reflects modern understanding of historical events.
“As we move from SQA to Qualifications Scotland, we look forward to playing our part alongside learners, educators and many others to promote anti-racist education.”
SQA is also aware that a number of ‘SQA endorsed’ history textbooks – which date back to 2013 and contain out-dated language and depictions of enslavement and colonialism – are still being used in some schools. SQA no longer endorses these or any other textbooks and has reminded schools that they must not be used in classrooms and libraries.
Further information
Changes have been made to subject course specification documents which are available via the links below.
Classical Studies
Geography
History
The Scottish Government’s Anti-Racism in Education Programme consists of a broad set of ambitions which will put in place measures which embed anti-racism in schools. The programme was conceived because of significant demand from learners, education professionals and parents to create an anti-racist curriculum. Consistent calls for anti-racist education have come through various channels like the Scottish Youth Parliament, Children’s Parliament – key message to Cabinet 2021 and the All Learners Matter National Discussion survey 2022. The Intercultural Youth Scotland Insight Report also highlighted learner appeals to decolonise.