IMCTC holds symposium on countering extremism within education system

The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) held an ideology symposium in Addu City on Monday, aimed at increasing awareness among educational and community cadres and preventing manifestations of extremism and deviation in ideology and behavior within the learning environment.

The Manifestations of Ideology Extremism in the Educational Environment Symposium was held as part of IMCTC’s ‘Prevention’ initiative, and was attended by a select group of academics, thinkers, and experts in the fields of ideology, education, and media, as well as representatives of governmental and educational institutions and stakeholders.

The first theme was delivered by Aref bin Awad Al-Rikabi, Professor of the Principles of Jurisprudence at the College of Shari'ah 'Islamic Law' and Islamic Studies at Umm Al-Qura University and a teacher at Al-Haram Al-Makki College.

 He addressed the manifestations of ideological extremism within the educational environment, highlighting issues such as intolerance, rejection of differing viewpoints, social isolation, and the adoption of rigid interpretations of reality and public matters.

He stressed that facing these manifestations begins with promoting a culture of dialogue and acceptance of difference in schools and universities, and re-establishing correct legal concepts in the minds of young people.

In the second theme, Dr. Khaled Mayar Al-Idrissi, the head of the Moroccan Center for International and Future Studies, addressed the factors contributing to the spread of extremism in educational institutions, including the vulnerable role of families, the lack of academic guidance, and insufficient teacher training regarding extremist ideologies and early intervention strategies aimed at protecting students.

He pointed out that digital and media challenges have fostered an environment that nurtures deviant ideologies among young people, which calls for the development of monitoring and awareness tools in educational institutions through sustainable rehabilitation programs.

The third theme was presented by Mohammed Khalfan Al-Sawafi, a writer and researcher from the United Arab Emirates.

He discussed the principles of preventing ideological extremism among teachers and educators, stressing that teachers play a crucial role in promoting a culture of moderation and tolerance within schools, by instilling the values of critical thinking and dialogue, recognizing deviant behaviors in students and addressing them early on, in addition to the necessity of building effective partnerships among schools, families, and communities to achieve comprehensive prevention of ideological extremism.

A scholarly lecture was presented by Dr. Aref Awad Al-Rikabi titled "Manifestations of Ideological Extremism and Its Risks."

The presentation provided an in-depth examination of various signs of ideological deviation, which included the misuse of religious texts outside their intended contexts, intolerance towards differing viewpoints, social isolation, and the acceptance of extremist interpretations of reality and public issues.

He also addressed the key risks of ideological extremism, which include the exploitation of young people in promoting extremism and terrorism, the distortion of the true image of religion, the erosion of values related to tolerance and coexistence, threats to social peace, and undermining national security, as well as its adverse impact on education, economic, and social development.

The symposium concluded with an open discussion session that resulted in several practical recommendations.

These include:

• Integrating the values of moderation into educational curricula;
• Establishing ongoing training programs for teachers focused on preventing extremist ideologies;
•  Developing coordination mechanisms between schools and families to monitor and address deviant behaviors early; and
• Supporting scholarly studies and research on extremism in educational environments.

The programs are part of IMCTC's strategic efforts under the "Prevention" initiative, which aims to enhance the ideology prevention system in member states by equipping educational staff with the skills to identify extremism early, address its ideological and behavioral roots, and promote a culture of moderation and tolerance within educational and societal environments.

Through these symposia and lectures, IMCTC seeks to highlight the importance of education as the primary defense against extremist ideology, emphasizing that investing in raising awareness and knowledge is essential for safeguarding societies and maintaining their security and stability.