Science initiative for black pupils

The project will seek to inspire African Caribbean pupils

By BBC Education Correspondent, Mike Baker

A drive to increase the number of African-Caribbean children achieving good results in science and technology subjects, so more of them can enter scientific careers, has been launched.

Announcing a £100,000 grant to fund the national "RESPECT" campaign, the Science Minister, Lord Sainsbury, said encouraging more youngsters from the African-Caribbean community was essential to "make the most of the potential of all young people" in Britain.

Currently, despite doing well in the early stages of school, pupils of African-Caribbean background do less well than others at GCSE.

Recent figures show just 37% of African-Caribbean pupils achieved 5 or more good GCSE passes compared to 50% of white pupils.

As a result of poor school achievement, African-Caribbean students are under-represented in scientific careers.

Although they represent 0.9% of the population, Black Caribbean students represent an estimated 0.2% of those working in medicine and dentistry.

By contrast, other ethnic groups such as Indian, Bangladeshi and Chinese are over-represented compared to their numbers in the population at large.

However Black Caribbean students are far better represented in subjects such as law, political studies and librarianship.

Role models

Schools in Manchester, Trafford, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Bristol, Northamptonshire and London will be involved in the "RESPECT" campaign.

Students aged between 8 and 14 will be put in touch with African-Caribbean professionals who are already working in science careers. These mentors, or role-models, will maintain long-term relationships with the schools.

The scheme will be run by the African-Caribbean Network for Science and Technology and will help young people get qualifications and jobs in areas like science, medicine and engineering.

The Network's director, Dr Elizabeth Rasekoala, said the aim was to raise awareness of "the under-representation and under-participation" of black people in these areas.

Dr Rasekoala said her own experience as a chemical engineer in Britain was one of "isolation, invisibility and marginalisation" and she hoped the campaign would raise the aspirations of young black people "beyond the stereotypical and limited confines of careers in sports and music.