Canada Province Introduces Anti-Islamophobia Program for K–12 Education
The initiative was announced on Friday by Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt. The program is designed to guide schools in responding to Islamophobia and promoting inclusion across the public education system, CTV News reported on Sunday.
In a media release, Schmidt said, “Every child deserves to feel safe, supported and included in Manitoba’s schools, regardless of their faith, background, or identity.”
According to the release, the Anti-Islamophobia Action Plan was developed by a working group formed in October 2024. The group included community leaders, educators and staff from the Department of Education.
The plan focuses on several key areas. These include strengthening relationships between schools and Muslim communities, expanding the inclusion of Muslim history and perspectives in curricula, and providing educators with professional development and classroom resources.
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Sadaf Ahmed, government affairs and public policy officer at the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said the plan supports greater understanding in schools.
She stated, “It promotes cultural awareness and collaborative engagement across classrooms.”
She added that “the Manitoba government’s work in providing a concrete plan of action for kindergarten to Grade 12 education marks a significant step forward for students and families.”
The province said implementation will take place in partnership with school divisions and community organizations. The action plan has been made publicly available through the education department’s anti-Islamophobia webpage.
Source: Agencies
