Recruitment events are being held as part of Black History 365 in a bid to increase the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic teachers in Wales.
Hosted in the EYST regional hubs in Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor, they are organised by the Education Workforce Council (EWC) (Educators Wales), and the ITE partnerships – the organisations who deliver teacher training across Wales. Attendees hear from lecturers, teachers and Educators Wales, gaining insights into teaching pathways, the profession itself, and funding opportunities.
Adele is now studying to be teacher, after attending a Welsh Government-funded teacher recruitment event in Cardiff.
She said:
“With the right support, we can all find our place in the world of education.”
At the event, designed to promote teaching as a career to people from ethnic minority communities, Adele discovered pathways to becoming a teacher.
From a young age, Adele had always aspired to become a teacher. However, after moving to the UK she experienced a lack of self-esteem, and her qualifications fell short of what was required for teacher training.
Inspired by the stories she heard from Black, Asian and minority ethnic teachers at the event, she felt empowered and supported to study and reapply to university. She subsequently secured a place on the PGCE course at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Adele said:
“I really do believe that if it wasn’t for me attending the PGCE event I would have not persisted through in my application process.
“My desire to teach is deeply rooted in the belief that education can transform lives. I’ve seen this truth firsthand. My mother, a nurse, bravely migrated our family to Cardiff, and her pursuit of education opened doors that reshaped our future. I want to be that catalyst for change in the lives of children, showing them that no dream is too big and no obstacle too great to overcome. I want to help children find their ‘cynefin’.”
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, said:
“Education can take us a long way in addressing the social, cultural and structural factors that sustain racial inequality. To do this, it is vital that we increase the diversity of our teaching workforce. Adele’s story is an inspiring example of how successful partnership working can achieve this.
“I am committed to ensuring we have a workforce that better reflects the population of Wales to better support our learners and ensure they see themselves reflected in the people who are teaching them.
“As a government we are committed to tackling structural and systemic racism and creating a Wales that is anti-racist by 2030.”
Aminur Rahman, Recruitment and Support Officer at the Education Workforce Council (EWC), who organises the recruitment events said:
“We’re working with grassroots organisations like EYST and NWAS to deliver these sessions with the aim of inspiring even more people to join and enrich our workforce.
“It’s vital that our education system reflects the diverse communities it serves, and events like this help ensure that everyone feels represented and supported in pursuing a career in education.”
For more information on different options available to people who are thinking about teacher training, visit Teacher (Educators Wales)
