Anti-immigration rhetoric and extremist views on social media are being blamed for a soaring number of racist incidents in Scottish schools.
Reported cases have risen by 75 per cent over the last three academic years and it is believed the increased use of online platforms during the Covid lockdowns may have helped fuel the increase.
There were 2,075 racist incidents recorded in primary and secondary schools across all councils in 2022-23 — the equivalent of 11 cases per school day.
Iman Abou Atta, director of Tell Mama, a charity that works to tackle anti-Muslim hatred, said: “The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing anti-Muslim hate and discrimination as schools and workplaces went online during the lockdown.