Race Relations Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Race Relations Act - Essay Example To satisfy the huge public outcry the McPherson Inquiry was initiated and in this report several recommendations in order to counter racism were made. Some of these recommendations were to incorporate cultural diversity into the National Curriculum, to check the correlation between school admissions and academic achievement and to assess the success of teachers' activities in these areas. Despite seeming to be related to the statutory education system these recommendations have a very important bearing on the education of adults in respect of racism. The National Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy (2001) has specified that inadequate availability of education, health; employment and housing greatly affect a significant number of people from the minority communities. In 2001, it was estimated that the black and minority communities comprised 8% of the total population of England. In England, fourteen percent of students belong to the black and minority group. Therefore, in education the opportunities made available to the black and minority communities have to be increased significantly. ... viders to make certain that members of the black or minority community are provided with better access to education, employment and training (Increasing participation and raising achievement of black minority group adults in post-16 education, n.d.). The objective of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 is to address this problem. It requires the public authorities to reassess their policies and procedures and thereby take such measures as will promote racial equality and get rid of discrimination. It comprises an amendment to the Race Relations Act 1976, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin. This Act applies to "Ministers, Central government departments, Local Authorities, regional agencies and enterprise networks, Police authorities, Health authorities, health boards, NHS Trusts and primary care trusts, Education authorities, grant aided and self governing schools, colleges and universities, Communities Scotland, Professional bodies, Libraries, museums and galleries". It empowers individuals or groups to oppose unlawful discrimination by resorting to judicial review. The Commission for Racial Equality is empowered to initiate inquiries, resort to judicial review and issue compliance orders if a public body infringes the Act (The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, 2002). In the Act these are known as the general duty of public authorities, the specific duties of authorities and the publishing of a race equality scheme, which has to specify as to how it will ensure equal opportunities and good race relations, and as to how it will refrain from racial discrimination (The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, 2005). Many people have been barred either directly or indirectly from further education due to