Belgian education ministers attend EU gathering on radicalisation in schools

Belgium’s three education ministers are in Paris today at a gathering of EU education ministers to discuss the manifesto published by the EU’s Radicalisation Awareness Network. The manifesto contains 24 proposals to combat radicalisation in European schools.

Nearly 100 teachers and education specialists from across Europe assembled in the British city of Manchester earlier this month to discuss the problem and developed the manifesto that is under discussion in Paris today.

The manifesto’s principle advice is for schools to maintain a constant dialogue with youngsters who are in danger of being radicalised. They also emphasise the need for governments to support schools in the battle against radicalisation.

One of the authors of the manifesto is Karin Heremans, director of the Royal Athenaeum in Antwerp. The education sector, she said, can help to prevent radicalisation by devoting more attention to democracy and citizenship in schools. Dialogue with youngsters is crucial, Heremans said. “We have to dare to talk about the issue.”

At the Athenaeum, staff makes efforts to discuss difficult topics with students such as the balance between freedom of expression and freedom of religious practice. Investment and training in the sector is also badly need, she confirmed. “Teachers are confronted with problems for which they are not trained.”

The manifest also points out that radicalisation is not just a task to be addressed by the education sector and advises close collaboration with social and psychological services. Contact with the police is also necessary, according to the manifesto, but at a late stage to maintain an atmosphere of trust at schools.

In the short term, a website will be set up on the prevention of radicalisation in education. The website will include workshops and tips on how to detect problems but also how to discuss the issue in class.

photo by Kristof Van Accom/BELGA