MORE THAN 2,000 people in Oxford have signed a petition calling for Britain’s colonial history to become part of the school curriculum.

A campaign group of sixth form students say the Government is denying their generation the tools to 'dismantle systemic racism' by not mandating teaching about the Empire in schools.

As yesterday, 2,057 people in Oxford’s two constituencies had signed a petition calling for MPs to change the curriculum – among more than 35,000 from across the South.

How many people signed in Oxfordshire?

A breakdown of each constituency is listed on the petition.

Oxford East: 1,115 people signed

Oxford West and Abingdon: 942

Banbury: 414

Witney: 480

Wantage: 541

The petition

The petition on Parliament’s website, created by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, has amassed 234,000 signatures in its first week, meaning it will be considered for a debate in Westminster.

It wants to create a 'far more inclusive curriculum' by making education compulsory on topics such as Britain’s role in colonisation and the transatlantic slave trade.

It reads: “By educating on the events of the past, we can forge a better future.

“Colonial powers must own up to their pasts by raising awareness of the forced labour of black people, past and present mistreatment of BAME people, and most importantly, how this contributes to the unfair systems of power at the foundation of our modern society.”

Herald Series:

The death of American George Floyd while in police custody reinvigorated Black Lives Matter protests throughout the UK, and sparked public debate on the nation’s history as a colonial empire.

Read more: Every single event leading up to today - Oxford calls for Oriel College's Cecil Rhodes statue to go

Herald Series:

Fill In The Blanks, a group of sixth form students from south London who support the petition, had been campaigning for a more “honest” curriculum before the latest global protests began.

A cross-party group of more than 30 MPs have already written to education secretary Gavin Williamson calling for a more diverse range of historical perspectives in the curriculum.

Modules such as migration and empire can be taught at Key Stage 3 and 4, but race equality think tank the Runnymede Trust said it was a lottery if they are taught as the decision rests with schools.

Find it here