College pays out pst1,000 for abuse

A Lancashire college has been ordered by an employment tribunal to pay pst1,000 in compensation to a lecturer after it was found guilty of race and sex discrimination.

The tribunal ruled that Wigan and Leigh College failed to protect Mubina Bhimji from racist and sexist conduct by some of her students.

Lecturers' union NATFHE has described the decision as a "stunning victory" and said it sent a clear message to colleges to stamp out racist and sexist abuse, or face stiff penalties.

The tribunal heard that Bhimji, who was supported by NATFHE, was the subject of repeated racist and sexist insults by three 16-year-old students. An internal disciplinary hearing had cleared the three of racist and sexist abuse, accepting their behaviour as mere "horseplay."

They were given only a verbal warning, and senior managers suggested that Bhimji's timetable be changed to avoid contact with them.

But the tribunal said the college had not made it clear to students that racist and sexist behaviour was unacceptable. It had "fudged" the issue of racist and sexist abuse, allowing it to re-occur.

NATFHE's equal opportunities officer at the college, Jude Forde, said that lecturers were "thrilled to bits". She said: "We hope it will now focus the college's mind on the importance of equal opportunities."