London: Students at Britain’s biggest exam board papers, General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), were asked to explain “why some people are prejudiced against Jews” that caused some ministers to criticise the board.
The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, which conducted the exams tried to clarify their position, saying “some people hold prejudices” against Jews but did not attempt to justify them.
The UK education secretary Michael Gove said that it was “insensitive” to ask such questions in exams, The Telegraph reported.
“To suggest that anti-Semitism can ever be explained, rather than condemned, is insensitive and, frankly, bizarre. AQA needs to explain how and why this question was included in an exam paper,” he told The Jewish Chronicle.
“The duty of politicians to fight prejudice, and with anti-Semitism on the rise we need to be especially vigilant,” he added.
Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “Clearly this is unacceptable and has nothing whatsoever to do with Jews or Judaism.”
Pupils across Britain sat the GCSE exam in religious studies last week. It contained the question: “Explain, briefly, why some people are prejudiced against Jews.”
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