Almost 20 NSW schools added to deradicalisation program as experts claim ‘predatory recruiters’ threaten schoolkids
ALMOST 20 schools have been deemed “at risk” from radical Muslim recruiters with one terrorism expert claiming they are a “persistent risk” to students.
National
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THERE is a “persistent threat” in schools from “predatory recruiters” looking to radicalise students, a terrorism expert has said.
Monash University Professor and Middle East expert Greg Barton made the comments on Friday morning as it emerged 19 NSW schools has been identified as being ‘at risk’ from recruiters seeking to exploit vulnerable teens.
The spotlight has been on Punchbowl Boys’ High School all week where parents told the Daily Telegraph students were being “pressured” into prayer meetings and Koranic lecturers.
“This is a school, not a mosque,” one dad said, “I am Muslim but my son is coming here to read and write, he’s not coming here for religion.”
Punchbowl High is now likely to be added to the list of schools, all in Sydney’s west and south west, that are to be the focus of deradicalisation initiative called the Schools Working Together Program.
The school has been on edge since its former principal, Chris Griffiths, was sacked last week.
There had been claims students had threatened to behead teachers, a student had assaulted a teacher and Mr Griffiths had referred to police as “pigs” in front of teens at the school.
It was also suggested there were plans to make the school available for Muslim students only and female teachers had been prevented from performing some duties.
The Schools Working Together Program would include monitoring of religious activities at schools, vetting of any volunteers coming into contact with students and measures to ensure non-religious students weren’t pressured to convert.
The Telegraph reported schools in Granville and Canterbury had already implemented the program. However, Mr Griffiths was reportedly resistant to the program being introduced at Punchbowl.
On Wednesday, it was revealed new principal Robert Patruno had been allegedly threatened by ex-students, who said, “We’re going to get you, and we’re going to f*** you up dog.”
Prof Barton said about 200 would-be jihadis had been stopped from leaving Australia for places like Syria.
“It’s a real problem. There is a bit of history (with Punchbowl High) some real ups and downs there,” Prof Barton told the Today show on Friday morning.
“It’s a low level but persistent threat that we’ve got to deal with. We’ve got to recognise that the recruiters are predatory characters going after kids.”
He said he understood there were concerns about “anything that smacks of big brother surveillance”, in schools but the deradicalisation program was worthwhile.
“It is about protecting kids.”
Talking to Radio 2GB on Thursday, head of the NSW Education Department Mark Scott said he knew of the threats against the new school principal and described them as, “appalling and disturbing”.
“We encouraged him to contact police but, as I understand it, he just wants to get on with calming down the school community.”
Sacking the previous head and deputy head had caused “some upheaval” at Punchbowl but Mr Scott said he expected the charged atmosphere to lessen as Mr Patruno settled into the role.
“We have 800,000 kids (at NSW schools) and from time to time there will be bad behaviour and coarse language and we encourage our principals to deal with that appropriately.”
Mr Scott denied the issue was more serious than simply some coarse language and that kids could have been targeted by recruiters seeking to radicalise them.
“It overstates things a little bit to suggest that kids who are concerned their principal has left the school are radicalised in some way,” he told 2GB.
“As the concerns and uncertainty calms down we expect the school community to calm down.”
Originally published as Almost 20 NSW schools added to deradicalisation program as experts claim ‘predatory recruiters’ threaten schoolkids
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