Schools to be on guard for radicalisation 20150529 p5t7sf.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Advertisement
Advertisement
This was published 11 years ago

School officials join radicalisation fight

AAP

Powered by

Senior education officials will support law enforcement agencies to prevent Australian schoolchildren from being radicalised and lured overseas by foreign fighters.

Education ministers agreed on Friday that the officials would work together to identify what is being done and what further action can be taken to address the rising terror threat.

But there are no plans to encourage schools or students to "dob in" radicalised children to authorities.

Advertisement

"We're talking about making sure that at-risk youth do not take the wrong course at school," federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne said.

"There are at risk young people in our schools who are being groomed by our enemies overseas to act against Australia's security interests."

Queensland Education Minister Kate Jones said although education officials would examine what was being done in schools to combat radicalisation, there was no formal strategy or plans for teachers to play a major role.

"We absolutely believe that it's not the role of teachers to do the heavy of lifting, that we actually have to work at this as a whole community," she said.

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said it was important to engage students at risk of radicalisation rather than marginalise them further.

"I think language is really important - this is about supporting programs that enhance social cohesion," he said.

Mr Pyne said he had written to ministers across Australia about issues at some Islamic schools in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

"I am not saying they're about radicalisation, there are other issues involved as well but there is a level of community concern," he said.

Advertisement

The education ministers are expected to report on their findings by September.

email icon

Contact us

Share a tip-off, video or photo with us

Most viewed in Australia

More to explore