Concerns have been raised over schools in Birmingham encouraging their pupils to create heart-shaped messages to welcome illegal migrants
Schoolchildren as young as five are being asked to create handmade cards with hearts and slogans like ‘You’re welcome here!’.
Labour-run Birmingham City Council has partnered with the Schools of Sanctuary Network which has as many as 1,200 primary and secondary school pupils on its scheme.
The Mail Online reports: Pupils at one school created cards that were sent to St Chad’s Sanctuary, a local group which supports asylum seekers, the Telegraph reports.
While another school showed off its card-making on social media which was championed by the Birmingham Schools of Sanctuary group.
Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, said that ‘children as young as five shouldn’t be used to push political agendas’.
While teachers cannot promote political views in the classroom there is no suggestion that writing the Valentine’s Day cards broke the law.
In images shared on social media and seen by the Telegraph, one group of pupils held a a large card intended for refugees.
Another set of school children held a ‘Special Refugee Day’ on Valentine’s Day, which saw refugees visit the schools and encourage the pupils to create messages and cards for the immigrants.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, accused Labour of turning classrooms into ‘propaganda hubs’ and weaponising pupils.
He said: ‘Classrooms should be for teaching maths, not immigration. Labour-run Birmingham council are allowing political campaigning to creep into our schools.’
A spokesperson for Birmingham Council said: ‘School of Sanctuary is a national scheme, which is independent of local authorities and schools apply independently to become ‘schools of sanctuary’
In a diverse, welcoming and inclusive city like Birmingham, it comes as no surprise that several schools across the city have signed up independently to be schools of sanctuary.’
Cities of Sanctuary UK describes itself as coordinating, supporting and growing networks to ‘support people seeking sanctuary in our communities’.
Their website states they ‘work with individuals, groups and organisations in every area and in every sector to encourage inclusivity, solidarity and compassion for people from a forced displacement background.