Episode 3: The Role of Education and Teachers in Preventing Violent Extremism

Decoding Counterterrorism

Hosts Jessica White and Raffaello Pantucci are joined by Claudia Wallner and Paul Thomas to explore efforts aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism within public education environments.

Education systems offer an existing environment where tools that can be useful in preventing violent extremism are taught, such as critical thinking, digital literacy and civic values. However, asking teachers to assess or report on security concerns among their students – such as signs of radicalisation to violent extremism – can sometimes be counterproductive or even destructive by breaking teachers’ bond of trust with students or causing other potential harms. While education systems are often designed to teach values to students, it is important to consider the best ways to ensure the safeguarding of teachers and students so that they can discuss complex ideas of historical, social, political and ideological dimensions.