I was surprised to read your item about the International Slavery Museum and its links with Hope University (“Institute aims to smooth teaching of slave trade”, April 9).

Manchester University research shows the sorry state of unrepresentativeness of black teachers in Liverpool’s teaching workforce. Surface initiatives such as the museum’s fail to address the issue of inequity - which continues despite major reports such as Lord Gifford’s (1989) into racism in the city - and the unrepresentativeness of the black population in the teaching profession and in Liverpool Council’s workforce in general.

Professor Bill Boyle, School of Education, University of Manchester.