In a landmark move, Scotland’s exam authority, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), has officially replaced terms such as “slaves” and “slave trade” with “enslaved people” and “the trade in enslaved African people” across its curriculum. The change, which took effect last summer, is part of broader efforts to “decolonize” education and promote a more nuanced understanding of history.
This shift reflects the growing global focus on reexamining historical narratives tied to colonialism and racism. The SQA emphasized that the updated terminology aims to highlight the forced nature of enslavement rather than perpetuating reductive language.
Supporters of the policy argue that the change underscores the systemic exploitation and dehumanization inherent in slavery. They believe it is a step toward fostering anti-racism in classrooms. However, critics have accused the SQA of revising history in ways that could distort broader historical contexts.
Chris McGovern, a historian, criticized the policy, saying, “Children need to learn about the great evil of the slave trade, but this language risks oversimplifying history by framing it as only white people enslaving Black people.”
Fraser Hudghton, Director of the Free Speech Union in Scotland, expressed similar concerns. “Our education system is plagued by quangos fixated on concepts like ‘white privilege’ and ‘unconscious bias,’ while the real challenges facing classrooms remain unresolved,” Hudghton said.
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Scottish Conservative education spokesman Miles Briggs also weighed in, suggesting that the SQA should focus on resolving its operational issues, including past controversies, rather than expending resources on linguistic updates.
The change is part of a wider movement to “decolonize” the curriculum, which began gaining traction in 2015. The approach challenges Eurocentric perspectives in historical narratives and seeks to incorporate anti-racist principles into education.
Documents obtained through freedom of information requests reveal that the SQA formed a History Qualifications Working Group to lead this effort. Updates were introduced not only in history but also in geography and classical studies exams, reflecting a broader shift in educational materials.
The SQA’s recent history has been marred by controversies. Last summer, the authority faced backlash after blank emails were sent to students on results day, prompting Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth to issue a formal apology. These missteps have led to the planned replacement of the SQA by Qualifications Scotland later this year.
An SQA spokesperson addressed the recent updates, stating, “The SQA has updated language in our course specifications to reflect modern understandings of enslavement, colonialism, and race.”
