The David Livingstone Birthplace Museum is set to pilot a new schools’ learning programme focussing on Scottish black history and anti-racism.
The initiative in Blantyre will highlight Scotland’s historical role in slavery and colonialism.
It comes as part of a £9.1 million regeneration of the museum which will reopen this summer.
The schools’ programme will pilot when pupils return from the summer holidays and will be a key part of the Museum’s work on bringing new context to Livingstone’s story and its collection.
It has been developed in consultation with the Museum’s Expert Advisory Group to support young people and teachers to think more critically and independently about equality and diversity, and how the impact of Scotland’s colonial history still affects society today.
The group was set up last year in response to George Floyd’s death to support, challenge, and advise on subjects including Black Lives Matter, slavery and racism.
It's made up of specialists who regularly review the Birthplace’s objectives to ensure that they continue to reflect ongoing discussions.
One group member is Emeritus Professor Sir Geoff Palmer, Scotland’s first black professor and the newly appointed Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University who supports teaching slave history as part of mainstream education in schools.
He said: “The first time I heard of David Livingstone was at my school in Jamaica in 1950, I was 10-years old.
“At present, I have the great honour of being a member of the David Livingstone’s Museum Expert Advisory Group which has transformed the Museum into an important centre for learning about diversity, equality and inclusion.
“I am delighted that the Museum will also focus on education because education can remove inequalities such as racism.”
The programme also focuses on learning for sustainability, outdoor learning, STEM and the arts.
It aims to bring Livingstone’s story and the Museum’s collection into the world of today by including new information on the explorer’s family, crew members and associates who travelled on his expeditions in Southern Africa.
Elena Trimarchi, Learning and Engagement Manager, David Livingstone Birthplace said: “We want to develop links with teachers in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and globally and will be running regular professional development learning sessions and focus groups to continue developing our programme in the future.
“As a team we are always questioning ourselves, evaluating and reviewing activities, and looking for external input from community partners and experts and we really hope the new programme will inspire learners of all ages to be active, anti-racist global citizens and critical thinkers.”
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