Combating antisemitism: ‘Steep learning curve’ for education administrators

Minister Letschert agrees that education administrators have fallen short in tackling antisemitism. “I also had to learn in this myself”, the former administrator of Maastricht University acknowledged during a parliamentary debate.

A recent report by the Taskforce on Combating Antisemitism shows that Jewish students and staff feel increasingly unsafe on campus. The many pro-Palestinian protests are sometimes accompanied by antisemitic slogans. Some students are subjected to verbal abuse. They feel excluded and sometimes even conceal that they are Jewish.

In addition to the regular budget that institutions have to ensure social safety on campus, the cabinet is therefore making an extra 350 thousand euros available for initiatives that support Jewish students and staff.

Fallen short

But how educational institutions should address the growing antisemitism remains a subject of debate, including in politics. During a parliamentary debate on the taskforce’s recommendations, education minister Rianne Letschert, who was also a member of the taskforce, agreed that institutions have fallen short. Administrators have had ‘a fairly steep learning curve’ and are ‘not quite there yet’, she said.

However, Letschert herself also came under fire. Right-wing parties in particular argued that during her time as head of Maastricht University she had not intervened sufficiently during pro-Palestinian protests. They therefore consider it inappropriate that she is now responsible for implementing the report’s recommendations.

“I also had to learn in this myself”, Letschert responded. At the same time, she emphasised that she is speaking ‘as minister of Education, Culture and Science and not as the former administrator of Maastricht University’. She promises to do her utmost ‘to ensure together with the education sectors that we comply with and implement these recommendations’.

Guidelines

In addition to the 350 thousand euros, guidelines will be introduced for ‘recognising and dealing with antisemitism’, for confidential advisers, lecturers and managers. Institutions can also take their own measures against students who misbehave, for example by imposing a campus ban or, in extreme cases, expelling them from their programme.

“It is up to educational institutions to put compliance with these recommendations within their own community on the agenda”, Letschert said. She did emphasise that it is important ‘to look very closely together at where we stand now and whether we are doing what is recommended here’.