'Students from India, Africa suffer racism in Oz'

Melbourne, Nov 19: According to a new study, over two-thirds of students from Africa and India, experience 'racial vilification' at schools in Australia.

The study claims that racism has encroached Australian schools, with 80 per cent of secondary students from non-Anglo backgrounds and 55 per cent of students from Anglo backgrounds stating they had experienced racial vilification, 'The Age' reported.

Students who attended a Catholic school were 1.7 times less likely to report experiences of racism than students going to government schools, it said.

The study noted that racism was making students feel angry and depressed, experience more headaches and muscle tension, and was generating lack of interest to go to school.

Lucas Walsh, head of research at Foundation for Young Australians, said it was worrying that many students who experienced racism did not report it, with about half telling a teacher but only 12 percent informing the police.

There was an urgent need for teacher training and leadership in schools to encourage better attitudes in the community, he said. "Schools are not just sites of racism but also a positive place to address it," he said.

OneIndia News