The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) is outraged by the blatant antisemitism being promoted in Scottish classrooms through teaching materials endorsed by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS). These resources, riddled with anti-Israel propaganda, label Israel as an “apartheid” and “colonial regime” and juxtapose images of Palestinian suffering against idyllic scenes of Israeli life, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Rather than fostering understanding, these materials incite hatred, alienate Jewish students, and deepen societal divisions.
Jewish children in Scotland are bearing the brunt of this toxic educational environment. Reports of swastikas in schoolbooks, physical assaults, and antisemitic slurs paint a horrifying picture of the impact such materials are having. Some families have been forced to transfer their children to private schools or even consider leaving Scotland altogether, simply to escape the hostility.
Gary Mond, Chairman of the NJA, stated: “These materials are not about education; they are about indoctrination. The EIS has failed its responsibility to ensure fair and balanced learning, choosing instead to promote a narrative that scapegoats Israel and, by extension, Jewish students. This is not only a betrayal of Jewish families but of the values that education is meant to uphold.”
Despite the NJA’s complaints, the EIS has refused to withdraw these offensive resources, defending them as “education for peace.” In reality, these materials incite division and hostility, undermining the principles of respect and inclusion that schools are supposed to champion.
The NJA demands immediate action from Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in Scotland, and the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education. Both leaders must take decisive steps to ensure these antisemitic materials are removed from Scottish classrooms and replaced with balanced, factual resources that promote understanding rather than antisemitism. Their inaction will only serve to validate the growing hostility toward Jewish students and their families.
Schools should be safe spaces for all children, not environments where hatred is normalised and Jewish students are made to feel unwelcome. Anything less than swift and decisive action is a failure of leadership and a betrayal of Scotland’s Jewish community.
