Nigel Farage Accuses Teachers of ‘Poisoning Our Kids’ on Race Issues
Nigel Farage has asserted that educators would initiate walkouts within weeks a Reform UK election victory, accusing them of “harming young minds” by instructing students that African-Caribbean youth are oppressed and white children oppressors.
At a gathering for a private US Christian college, the politician expressed his perspective on British schools, stating that the “Marxist left” had “taken over schooling”.
“I expect a teachers’ strike very quickly after winning the next general election,” Farage commented in response to questions.
“They are corrupting young minds. They instruct children to feel guilt about their nation. They inform little Johnny, who’s eight, who is black that he is oppressed and little Oliver, who is white, who is eight that he is a perpetrator. They are dividing us, instead of fostering unity. They promote this negative culture.”
In response to Farage’s claims, Daniel Kebede dismissed the idea that the schools were under Marxist influence as “nonsense”. He pointed out that industrial action must relate to teachers’ terms and conditions, and doubted whether Reform would attack these immediately upon entering government.
“The politician has crafted his political career on coded rhetoric and currently, similar to other figures, he is lining up teachers and their organizations for a fight,” the union leader said.
“This is highly reckless. Neither I nor our union – advocate such divisive theories as he claims … If he were to lead the government he would sell out our public services, particularly schooling … and the outcome would be catastrophic for students and learning.”
The party, which is leading the polls by about 10 points, has provided limited specifics on a proposed education policy and seems not to have designated an education lead.
Nonetheless, Farage’s remarks indicated the party would overhaul the system and the curriculum. He said: “We have got a massive job with education – absolutely herculean. Moreover, it won’t happen quickly; it requires years, a long-term effort to reform.”
He stated that gen Z was more open to analytical thought, but millennials were “absolutely hopeless”.
Paying tribute to Charlie Kirk, he commented: “My goal for schooling is to foster independent thought – to instruct people that multiple perspectives exist and they should decide for themselves rather than what’s happening now where views are labeled good or bad. It’s a massive job in the UK and US.”
The party has conflicted with the UK’s largest teaching union, after the union leader labeled them “far right and racist” and dismissed Farage as “a cheap imitation”.
Farage has accused the union head with being “a self-declared Marxist” … an individual intent that young minds be corrupted at school, their minds should be poisoned about everything to do with this country” and has argued that the organization seeks to brainwash teenagers against Reform.
Almost one million people are employed in education in the UK, about half of whom are teachers and the remainder being assistants and administrative personnel. The leading teachers’ organization has hundreds of thousands of members.
Countrywide walkouts over teacher pay and conditions in 2023 led to significant interruptions in schools and millions of days of lost learning for students.
During the American gathering, the Reform leader also vowed to promote the online educational material of the Christian college in the UK. He said organizations like it were “key to resistance”, noting: “I am serious. I’ll assist garner hundreds of thousands, if not millions of young people to these educational programs. I make that commitment now and I’ll do that.”
The institution, a small private Christian college, offers free courses. According to its online description: “Comprehensive learning is vital for well-being and to perpetuate the blessings of freedom. It offers these excellent programs for free to every interested learner.”
