Education Secretary reveals new 'counter-extremism' measures

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is to implement new measures that she claims will help to reduce the risk of children being 'radicalised', as part of the government's broader plans to "tackle extremism in all its forms".

Among the measures Nicky Morgan plans to introduce is an 'anti-radicalisation' website. The government is also to take a "tougher approach" towards illegal, unregistered 'schools'.

The measures were announced on 19 January at Bethnal Green Academy in east London, which had been attended by three girls who escaped to Syria last year.

The education secretary claimed that the measures are "absolutely not about shutting down debate in schools" or "wrapping young people in cotton wool".

As Christian Concern and other organisations have pointed out, however, the government’s plans put groups at risk of censorship, if views are considered "undesirable" or incompatible with 'British values'.
 

'Educate Against Hate'

The 'anti-radicalisation' website Educate Against Hate will aim to inform parents and schools about the dangers of 'extremism', offering "practical advice" to protect children.

The website will give teachers and families "the expertise they need to challenge radical views and keep their children safe", said Mrs Morgan.

It is to include information from the government and groups such as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, with advice on how to recognise warning signs, how parents should talk to their children about 'extremism' and how to take action if warning signs are spotted.

The website will state that parents and teachers should watch for "excessive time spent online or on mobile phones" and be wary of children with a "susceptibility to conspiracy theories and a feeling of persecution", for example.
 

'Fundamentalism'

But the measures are not limited solely to tackling the dangers of hard-line Islamic teaching.

During her speech, Nicky Morgan said the website would advise on preventing "extremism in all its forms", including, for example, "the fundamentalism of far-right groups".

Christian Concern’s Chief Executive Andrea Williams commented:

"The government needs to take great care here. The definition of 'extremism' set out in the 'Counter-Extremism Strategy' is dangerously vague and may well be used to target Christians. Simply holding to many of the truths found in Scripture could be considered 'fundamentalist'."
 

Unregistered 'schools'

The Department for Education also revealed that it is to introduce "significant escalation" of investigations into so-called schools that operate without being legally registered.

Currently, any educational institutions teaching for over 20 hours per week must be registered with the government.

During her speech on Tuesday, Nicky Morgan said:

"Our tougher stand against illegal schools will help prevent children from falling under the grasp of extremists".

In a letter to Nicky Morgan last December, Ofsted’s chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw highlighted that in three Islamic 'schools', which were found to be operating illegally, some resources were "misogynistic, homophobic and anti-Semitic" in nature. He also said that children were subjected to "a narrow Islamic-focused curriculum".

These three 'schools' have since been shut down due to the material that was being taught and conditions that were deemed "unhygienic" and unsafe.

Sir Michael used these findings to justify his statement that all religious groups that provide education should be looked into, in case they were operating illegally.

He told the BBC:

"It will apply across the board, to any religious group whether Muslim group, Jewish group, or Christian group who wants to operate this sort of provision in unsafe accommodation, in unhygienic and filthy accommodation.

"It will apply to all religious groups, I want to make that absolutely clear".
 

'Institutional bias'

Andrea Williams responded to Sir Michael’s comments, highlighting that no Christian educational settings have been found to be operating unlawfully.

"We have yet to see any evidence that Christian groups are operating unregistered 'schools', yet Sir Michael gives the impression that this might be the case.

"Ofsted has been known to operate with an institutional bias against Christian educational settings. Durham Free School, for example, was closed down last year because it did not comply with the government's definition of 'British values'. 

"In light of such an event, it is not difficult to imagine that these new measures will be used to further target groups that offer Christian teaching, both within school settings and without.

"The government should be focusing its efforts where there has been evidence of illegal activity, not casting a wide net that puts Christian teaching at greater risk of censorship."

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Read Coverage:
'Educate against hate', urges government (BBC)