Workshops against extremism will take place in schools in the future. The cabinet presented on Monday what content is conveyed and why it is important. For the time being, however, the service focuses on adults and teachers.
According to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP), the contents include the Prohibition and Symbols Act, democracy, human rights and the fight against anti-Semitism. The starting signal was given on Monday at the Federal Training Institute for Social and Primary Education in St. Pölten. Workshops will follow at interested schools next year.
The services are provided by so-called police prevention officers. Since February, 60 of them have been trained by the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN). By 2025 there should be 200 trained people. “Radicalization starts on a small scale, among young people, online,” says Karner.
Values such as tolerance and religious freedom
Schoolchildren need appropriate knowledge and certain skills to be better prepared for the dangers of extremism, said Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP). For example, teachers as well as children and young people “need to know who they can turn to. At the moment, the school management and the educational board are mainly being called upon to be careful with this.” Schools must also promote values such as tolerance, respect and religious freedom.
“Extremism in any form is poison for our society,” said State Secretary for Youth Claudia Plakolm. The fact that extremist trends are increasing is ‘alarming’. More educational work is needed, especially among young people.
Recently, the Viennese teacher representative Thomas Krebs (FCG), among others, has reported extreme trends and increasing violence in schools. Polaschek described these as “snapshots” that happened over and over again. Discussions took place between the school management, teachers and those involved.
A round table discussion with experts on how to avoid extremism and combat radicalization will soon take place in Lower Austria. This was announced by State Education Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister (ÖVP).
Source: Krone
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