UK Teachers' union calls for withdrawal of government strategy aimed at preventing kids from becoming extremists
The National Union of Teachers in the United Kingdom says that learning institutions has a "moral obligation" to protect kids from extemists, but they have voted to have Prevent, the strategy used by the government, withdrawn.
"Evidence shows that grooming by extremist groups happens mainly on social media sites, not on school premises," said Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, as quoted by Christian Today. "Schools' best contribution to countering any behaviour that could be a problem is by encouraging discussion. Some aspects of Prevent inhibit this and it is for this reason that we need a review of the strategy to find the right, and best way to protect children and young people."
Prevent is a strategy to curb the chances of kids becoming extremists, and it is part of the government's counter-terrorism policy. However, the teachers at the Annual Conference 2016 held from March 25 to 29 deem that this would, among other things, prevent open debate.
According to the final agenda of the conference, there have been cases when kids were "wrongly referred to the police" because of things they said during discussions in class, and they find that it could be used to "target young Muslim people."
The group deems that the government needs to involve the people in education to device "alternative strategies to safeguard children and identify risks posed to young people." They also recommend that guidelines be made for schools to "address values" as well as "advance of human rights through education."
"We make no apology for protecting children and young people from the risks of extremism and radicalisation," said a government spokesperson as quoted by The Huffington Post. "Prevent is playing a key role in identifying children at risk of radicalisation and supporting schools to intervene."
