A set of awards in honour of one of the first Asian women to teach in Edinburgh recognised students and staff for finding creative ways to promote diversity.
Primary and secondary schools nominated students for art projects, written pieces and other submissions inspired by the themes of equality, inclusion and diversity.
Headteachers also nominated staff whose work on equality has impacted the school and beyond in the wider community.
The Saroj Lal Awards have been running for three years, named after one of the first Asian women to teach in a Scottish primary school. Saroj had a long career as an educator and campaigner, which began as a teacher at South Morningside Primary School in 1970.
She also started the first local authority interpreting and translating service in Edinburgh, served for sixteen years as the director of the Lothian Racial Equality Council and established several social and cultural groups for South Asian women in the capital, among many other efforts and projects.
Saroj’s son, Vineet, told The Herald that Saroj recognised the classroom as “one of the key conduits to achieving true multiculturalism.”
“She knew it was crucial to work in schools, to try to ensure that children were made aware of the fact that Britain is a multicultural society from a very early age.”
The awards established in her honour following her death in 2020 are meant to recognise the students and staff who are continuing in that vein.
This year’s pupil awards were split between three categories:
- Proud to be me: showcases students’ pride in their own heritage, culture or identity
- How Prejudice Makes Me Feel: illustrates how young people felt about prejudice that was inflicted either on them or others
- “Artivism”: illustrations that challenge others to change
Each category had a primary and secondary winner. This year’s winners are:
- Proud To Be Me - primary: P7’s “The Quilt Group” at Currie Primary School
- Proud To Be Me - secondary: Pilrig Park School - A whole school Project
- How Prejudice Makes Me Feel - primary: Andrew Amanfo - P5 Ferryhill Primary School
- How Prejudice Makes Me Feel - secondary: Jesudarasimi Omaoya (Dara)- S3 Castlebrae Community Campus
- Artivism - primary: Duddingston Primary School – A whole school Project
- Artivism - secondary: Farah Joma – S4 St Thomas of Aquin’s RC High School
- Staff winner: Laura-Jane Inglis, James Gillespie’s High School
- Judges Commendation Award 2025: Hazel Li, S1 Craigmount High School
Read more
- Portobello High teacher Hardeep Kaur wins diversity award
- Saroj Lal and the fight for equality in Scottish education
- Saroj Lal, inspirational figure in the long fight for fairness for all
City of Edinburgh Joan Griffiths, convener of the education, children and families committee, said that Saroj “raised the bar” in her lifetime and the awards showcase how her legacy continues to inspire young people in Edinburgh.
“It’s fantastic to see such that so many schools have submitted entries this year, from art works, poems, films and animation, the entries this year include a real mix of mediums and at such a high standard.
“I want to congratulate the winners, and acknowledge all those who submitted an entry, for their creativity.”
Vineet Lal, who served on the judging panel for the awards, said that this year’s entries were “outstanding.”.
“I have been blown away by the different ways that the artworks have captured and showcased the themes of equality and diversity.
“Saroj was a force for good in her community and beyond, championing social justice and equality for all.
“She would be extremely proud to see that the awards in her name are now in their third year and that children and young people continue to be inspired by her pioneering work.”
The rest of the judging panel included former Saroj Lal award winners Hardeep Kaur and Elaine Oram, student judges Yashasvi Soni and Scarlet D’Mellow, Ethelinda Lashley-Scott, CEO of the Multi-Cultural Family Base, and Carol Tuzan, Wider Achievement & Lifelong Learning Manager.
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