SCOTS from ethnic minorities are being put off teaching due to a lack of role models, cultural barriers and prejudice, it has been claimed.

Scottish Labour MSP Anas Sarwar said teachers do not adequately reflect the diversity of classrooms across Scotland.

It comes as a cross-party Holyrood group set up to tackle Islamophobia prepares to examine ways to encourage students from minority backgrounds to work in the profession.

READ MORE: School music lessons must be free, say MSPs 

Mr Sarwar, who chairs the group, insisted education is “not only the vehicle to break the cycle of poverty, it is also the vehicle to defeat prejudice and hate”.

He said: “Teaching a child can help educate and change a family, and it can educate and change a community.

“But that task is made harder when the teaching profession does not reflect the diversity of our classrooms across Scotland.

“It’s clear that we are failing to encourage BAME (black, Asian, and minority ethnic) individuals to embark on a teaching career.

“Improving the diversity of the teaching profession to reflect our society will benefit every single school and every single pupil, ensuring the next generation of Scots learn from teachers who come from a range of diverse cultures and backgrounds.”

Official statistics show around 4 per cent of people living in Scotland are from minority ethnic groups.

But out of a total of around 50,000 teachers, those from ethnic minority backgrounds make up just 1.4% of the workforce – 1% in primary schools and 1.7% in secondary schools.

In promoted posts – head teachers, deputy head teachers and principal teachers – individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds make up just 0.6% of the total number. This equates to fewer than 100 across Scotland.

Research has previously warned a lack of role models, cultural and societal barriers, and prejudice is deterring many from choosing teaching as a career.

Meanwhile, it is claimed others leaving the profession often cite racism – conscious or unconscious – as a reason for doing so.

Holyrood’s cross-party group will hear from staff at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), who will highlight positive measures taking place to address the challenge.

They will call on the public, private and voluntary sectors to work collaboratively to promote teaching as an attractive career for minority ethnic students.

READ MORE: Asterix's latest quest: To help Scottish primary pupils learn French 

Khadija Mohammed, a lecturer in education at UWS and chair of SAMEE (the Scottish Association of Minority Ethnic Educators), said it was important to work together to explore ways forward.

She said: “At SAMEE, we have developed a bespoke coaching and mentoring programme for BAME professionals which essentially encourages them to come together as a community and considers ways in which they can support and learn from each other to progress.

“It is important to provide guidance from an early stage in the mentee's professional journey, placing emphasis on the value of a diverse workforce.”