Antisemitism remains a persistent threat, to Jewish communities and democratic societies as a whole. With the conviction that education is one of the most powerful tools to fight its root causes and of hatred, UNESCO just launched two complementary publications. Their aim is to equip educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers with a toolbox that helps prevent and address antisemitism and promotes inclusive learning environments in Europe.
Developed with the support of the European Commission, the publications focus on how Jewish life, culture, and antisemitism are represented in school materials, and how educators can address the topic in their classrooms. They also map out good practices, concrete examples and promising pedagogies developed by leading experts from civil society.
How antisemitism is taught and exposed in school textbooks
School materials, including school textbooks, shape how young people understand history, culture, and identity. Yet they can also reflect, or even perpetuate, social biases. The representations of Jews, Judaism and antisemitism in school textbooks and curricula in Europe is a study of the situation in eight European countries and how antisemitism is taught and exposed in school textbooks and curricula. The study uncovers gaps and stereotypes. For example, only about 10% of the analyzed textbooks address contemporary antisemitism. This can leave students with the impression that antisemitism is a problem of the past.
The study also offers clear recommendations to ensure that school materials are reflective of Jewish contributions across history and contemporary society. It shows promising examples of how inclusive, empathetic and insightful content can stimulate new ways of engaging with Europe’s Jewish life and history.
To improve the teaching about Jewish history and culture, the study recommends
- presenting Jewish history as an integral part of European history
- moving beyond portraying Jewish people only as victims
- incorporating Jewish voices, including those of women and girls, across historical periods
- ensuring visual materials do not to reinforce and reproduce antisemitic stereotypes
Practical strategies and guidance for educators
The second publication Strategies to counter antisemitism: A handbook for educators responds to a growing need among educators for clear and practical guidance on how to address antisemitism in the classroom.
The handbook outlines 10 guiding practices, each brought to life with concrete examples from leading institutions. It offers practical ways to apply these practices through educational initiatives grounded in the three learning dimensions of Global Citizenship and Peace Education: cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioural.
Educators are encouraged to build students’ knowledge by helping them recognize and understand antisemitism in its historical and modern forms. This can be done using authentic personal stories to humanize experiences and challenge prejudice. Intercultural dialogue and engaging with Jewish heritage are encouraged to overcome bias and build bridges between communities. The development of media literacy and communication skills can be used to counter the disinformation that fuels discrimination online and offline.
The objective is to empower educators to equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed to critically investigate and challenge biased narratives, and act against antisemitism in their own communities.
UNESCO’s framework against prejudice
These resources are part of UNESCO’s broader effort to addressing antisemitism through education — a long-term commitment to advancing human rights, global citizenship, and inclusive learning environments.
The two studies reinforce UNESCO’s ongoing work to build inclusive education systems that reject hate and promote respect. They complement initiatives on Global Citizenship and Peace Education, Holocaust and genocide education, and efforts to counter hate speech and violent extremism.
Since 2023, UNESCO has trained more than 1300 educators and policymakers across Europe as part of the ‘Addressing antisemitism through education’ project. To continue this effort, the two studies will be integrated into a comprehensive training package for key stakeholders through a series of regional workshops.