Inquiry hears of challenges faced teaching young about the Holocaust

The head of the Holocaust Educational Trust has told a Government inquiry about the challenges of teaching young people about the Nazi genocide.

Addressing an Education Select Committee on Tuesday, HET’s Chief Executive Karen Pollock said the platform was a “welcome opportunity to discuss what we can do to improve the quality and impact of Holocaust education in schools across the UK”. 

 She added: “We work with thousands of students and teachers each year but we are aware there are more we need to reach; with the right support, we will ensure that no young person is ignorant of this period of history.”

The Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project, which receives government funding and enables around 3,000 students and teachers a year to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, was highlighted as a crucial educational element.  

Recognising the difficulty teachers face, there was discussion about the stage at which Holocaust education should take place to ensure students are “emotionally and educationally prepared” for the subject matter.

Other witnesses giving evidence included Sir Eric Pickles MP and Paul Salmons, director of the Centre for Holocaust Education.