A group of academics, the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine, has uncovered what it describes as bias that has been introduced into British GCSE textbooks on Middle East history. BRICUP found hundreds of changes in two books published by Pearson, averaging over three alterations per page. The changes to the books were made at the instigation of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and UK Lawyers for Israel. The examinations at which these textbooks are targeted are sat by thousands of GCSE and International GCSE students annually, in England and Wales and overseas.
The report of this investigation finds that changes have been made to what facts are presented, what interpretations given, and what language employed. In almost every case the alterations move these books towards supporting an Israel-friendly version of that history, and away from presenting the Palestinian narrative. The report’s authors call for the books’ immediate withdrawal.
Click here to read the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine’s Report on the Revisions Made to Two Pearson GCSE Textbooks.