Education in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) Among the Youth

Abstract

This chapter looks at the role that education can play for young people in P/CVE (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism). It starts by examining the reasons and case studies of how terrorists identify and prioritize the radicalization and recruitment of students into violent extremist groups and subsequently how they craft and manipulate their narratives to answer the existential questions posed by young people. It is in this environment that the possibility of education taking the lead role in P/CVE is presented. Emphasis is put on the various conduits, readily available in education, such as engineering and facilitating contact among students as a hedge against prejudice; enhancing skillsets such as critical thinking; transmitting values such as empathy; and building the knowledge-base of the students on the efficacy of nonviolence (as opposed to violent radicalization) in addressing grievances and challenges. The role of the teacher complimented with other facilitators such as former terrorists, social influencers, and victims of terrorism is also evaluated in P/CVE efforts. Finally, a critical analysis is provided on the challenges facing the education sector should it decide to step up and play the role in P/CVE. The challenges discussed include the lack of studies on the effectiveness of educational interventions in P/CVE; the inherent limitations of such interventions when addressing certain drivers of radicalization; the possibility of the interventions alienating parts of the student population; and the possibility of teachers and teaching institutes not willing or sufficiently equipped or trained to take such a role.