Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has been urging universities to move immediately. She continues to call for them to take bold, new action to safeguard Jewish students against harassment and discrimination. Her statement follows what is believed to be a record 117% increase in antisemitic incidents tracked on campuses. This rise happened across the 2022/23 and 2023/2024 academic years, though recorded by the Community Security Trust.
In a bid to meet this challenge, the UK government has opened a new £4 million fund. This new fund will support projects that not only teach students to detect misinformation online but foster interfaith understanding. To support the new scheme, government will provide £2 million to make it happen. This young people’s programme works to engage secondary school students in England with the Holocaust. These initiatives lie at the intersection of a wide-ranging efforts to foster awareness and acceptance in schools.
Phillipson’s remarks come as pro-Palestinian demonstrators flood American campuses. These protests are a symptom of the growing backlash against the state of Israel due to its war on Gaza. Even Labour UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the protests. He calls upon students to avoid the protests due to the escalation of antisemitism in our streets.
Priti Patel, the Conservative shadow foreign secretary, was fierce in her denunciation of recent protests. She referred to them as “the protests of ugliness,” unmasking the “division and hatred” that’s permeated our society. Patel highlighted the scenes that unfolded in London as representative of the alarming environment Jews are experiencing today. She continued, “Just look at what unfolded on the streets of London yesterday. Consider the extent of anti-Semitic violence that was shown on the streets of London toward Britain’s Jewish population.
“We cannot accept that. There can be no place for it,” she insisted, highlighting the critical role that educational institutions play in safeguarding the well-being of all students.
Fears of conflict are running high. Universities of the UK have an urgent duty to protect the safety and acceptance of Jewish students. The Education Secretary’s call for action signifies a pivotal moment for educational leaders to reassess their strategies in combating antisemitism and promoting inclusivity on campuses.
