Further education colleges are set to become the latest frontline in the Government’s battle against terrorism.
Under Whitehall plans, colleges will join councils, the police and intelligence agencies, to disrupt recruiting grounds for al-Qaeda and far right groups.
A document published by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on 18 February stresses the importance of FE colleges in preventing the radicalisation of disaffected British youths.
It states ‘colleges accepted [through the consultation] the particular need to focus on al-Qaeda-related activity, but also stressed the importance of adopting approaches which will enable them to counter incidences of extremism from other groups – most notably the far right’.
In response, senior FE staff will be invited to a government-backed ‘prevent seminar’ in April to discuss tackling youth radicalisation.
Local government, working alongside the CLG, has already developed plans to manage the popularity of far-right groups, including the British Nationalist Party, in areas such as Stoke, Burnley and Barking in east London.
The proposals follow security services claims that Islamic extremists attempt to recruit terrorists through FE colleges in cities including Leeds and Birmingham, ministers want education staff to take action.
But one senior education trade unionist told The MJ: ‘This is a delicate issue. Staff understand the need to act on potential radicalisation, but they also want to avoid any discrimination directed against BME students, and particularly Muslims. Non-discriminatory action plans are essential.’
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