Lake Macquarie High students say they feel 'isolated' after speaking out against an assignment about slavery

Triplets Akoi, Athiei and Beny Mayek are currently in year nine at Booragul's Lake Macquarie High School. Their family came to Australia from South Sudan in 2003 before making the move to Newcastle two years later.

Last Tuesday, the triplets say they were given an assignment by the school's HSIE faculty asking them to take on the role of either the "Minister for Economy" or "Minister for Human Rights" to the President of the United States.

While the latter involved writing a report aiming "to stop the Slave Trade", students were also given the option of arguing for its continuation.

"You outline the positive contribution slaves make to the economies of Africa, England and the United States," the assessment read.

Athiei said she was "offended and confused" upon reading the assignment.

"I didn't know why someone would write a question like that. I was mad," Athiei said.

The triplet's older sister, Jagorda Manyuon, said she was "enraged" when her siblings showed her the assignment.

"At first I didn't believe them but when they showed me I couldn't believe anyone would write something so offensive," Ms Manyuon said.

"They are basically asking students to defend why slavery happened.

"While I understand it is important to learn about history I think this questions lacks empathy. As my friend said, you wouldn't ask students to defend the Holocaust. So why this?"

The Education Department said it has "been made aware of an allegation of inappropriate content appearing in an assessment task at Lake Macquarie High School and is currently investigating".

"The Department has had an Anti-Racism Policy in place for 30 years. It promotes respect for people from all cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds and rejects all forms of racism in schools and department offices," a spokesperson said.

However, Ms Manyuon said there is a culture of racism at the school. Ms Manyuon said she had been in contact with the school on "countless" occasions since the triplets started in year seven and issues were usually "swept under the rug".

"My brother said he complained about being called the N word one day and a staff member told him the word had been used for hundreds of years and people didn't really know the meaning of it. As if it was some kind of justification," she said.

"There have been a number of times where my siblings have been called the N word then threatened by other students with violence so they wouldn't say anything.

"Staff always assure me they will get to the bottom of it but it's the same the next week. Things need to change."

According to the Education Department, a case involving the family in 2020 was immediately acted on and counselling provided.

A Department spokesperson told the Newcastle Herald "all staff undergo annual mandatory training" which includes child protection and the Department's Code of Conduct.

"It is not appropriate for this word or any other racial slur to be used. Lake Macquarie High School does not tolerate discrimination in any form and acts immediately if an incident is raised," the spokesperson said.

"All schools also have an Anti-Racism Contact Officer who works with police school liaison officers and students to address online vilification and appropriate use of social media.

"A local area executive will contact the school to ensure everything is being done to support these students."

Since coming forward about the assessment, Ms Manyuon said her siblings have "had some sleepless nights and shed many tears".

"We knew there would be some backlash but the hate and the hostile comments we have received online have made us all fear for our safety," she said.

"We used to love Newcastle but there's no future for my siblings at Lake Macquarie High and probably no future for us in Newcastle."

Akoi said she has felt isolated since speaking out about the assignment.

"Not only the assignment itself but how everyone has gone against us. Even my friends," Akoi said.

However, Ms Manyuon said she doesn't regret coming forward about the assessment.

"It's important to raise these issues," Ms Manyuon said.

"To get them in the public eye so they don't keep getting swept under the rug."

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