Funding to combat Islamophobia in schools a ‘great thing’ says this Muslim student
Province is partnering with community groups to address misconceptions about Islam
By CBC News
Riverside Secondary School student Yousef Kolilat says he’d like to see the digital resources created for educators, students and parents explain why Muslims practice their religion and some of the misconceptions associated with it
(CBC) A Windsor-Essex student is thrilled to hear the provincial government is investing $300,000 toward initiatives to combat Islamophobia within the school system.
On Tuesday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced the province is collaborating with community partners to pay for initiatives that support Muslim students and families, including training for teachers, support for students, and digital resources for parents.
“I feel like it is a great thing,” said Yousef Kolilat, a Grade 12 student at Riverside Secondary School.
Kolilat said he is disgusted by the number of Islamophobic incidents he’s heard about recently.
“We are all humans. There is no need to go on hating people for their race, at all,” said Kolilat.
The funding announcement comes weeks after four members of a Muslim family in London, Ont. were killed, and a child was injured, by a man police said was motivated by hate.
According to Statistics Canada, hate crimes have risen in Canada, with a nine per cent increase in anti-Muslim attacks in 2019, compared to the previous year.
