Province releases plan for K-12 schools to address Islamophobia

The provincial government has released a three-year action plan for Manitoba schools to help them address Islamophobia.

The plan, for teachers in classrooms from kindergarten to Grade 12, is designed to help them address prejudice, hostility and systemic discrimination directed at Muslims, and to be able to recognize and celebrate Muslim faith, history and cultural contributions.

It recommends that schools offer culturally appropriate food options, including items that are certified halal; develop inclusive programming that highlights Muslim culture, such as storytelling, art, music and food; and ensure that school calendars reflect and acknowledge Muslim cultural and religious observances, such as Ramadan and Eid.

It also provides ideas for responding to incidents of hate against Muslim students and for providing culturally safe mental‑health supports and designated prayer spaces for Muslim students.

The plan was created by a 13-person Manitoba Anti‑Islamophobia Working Group, which was established in October 2024. It was composed of members of the Muslim community, the Manitoba Teachers’ Society and the provincial government.

The genesis of the plan was a 2022 research project conducted by the Manitoba Islamic Association, said group member Eve Sotiriadou, executive director of the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute.

It found that 62 per cent of Manitoba Muslims had experienced Islamophobia, with 43 per cent of those incidents taking place in school settings across the province.

That finding “highlighted an urgent need for targeted action in education,” Sotiriadou said.

In response, the MIA developed an anti‑Islamophobia tool kit for educators, which is incorporated into the plan.

“Right from the start we wanted to engage school divisions,” Sotiriadou said, adding she is grateful for the support from the province and the Manitoba Teachers’ Society in working with the Muslim community.

Action is needed more than ever, due to the rise of various forms of hate today, she said.

She said she hopes it can help non-Muslim students see that Muslims “are just like everyone else” in Manitoba.

Along with addressing Islamophobia, the plan will also help teachers respond to the unique needs of some Muslim students who are dealing with trauma from fleeing conflict in other countries, Sotiriadou said.

It will also enable teachers to explain how and why Muslim students pray, and what is involved in making appropriate places for prayers in schools.

“They just need a washroom and a quiet space,” she said.

Manitoba Teachers’ Society president Lillian Klausen said she is excited about the resource, saying it will help teachers “create inclusive spaces and ensure all our students feel safe.”

The resource will be made available to teachers and school divisions for professional development days, she added.

Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning Tracy Schmidt said the plan is a way for Muslim children, like every child in Manitoba, to “feel safe, supported and included in schools, regardless of their faith, their background or their identity.”

The plan can be found online.

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