Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir has launched a survey aimed at mapping out the issue of radicalisation in schools.
The survey is linked to an action plan against violent radicalisation currently being prepared by the Flemish government, Demir said on Wednesday in the Flemish Parliament.
The Education Minister was responding to questions from Hans Bonte (Vooruit), Toon Vandeurzen (Christen Democratisch &Vlaams), Aimen Horch (Groen), and Nadia Sminate (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA).
Last week’s State Security Report revealed that an increasing number of young people are involved in terror plots. It noted that nearly one in three individuals plotting violent actions between 2022 and 2024 in Belgium was under 18, and that the youngest was just 13 years old.
Ms. Demir confirmed that the Government of Flanders would be implementing the new action plan to prevent violent radicalisation. She said various action plans had been implemented in the past, but an update was now needed.
The Education Minister believes the expertise gained from past plans can be built upon, and she emphasised the importance of colleagues in the Flemish government coming up with concrete new actions.
She stressed, in particular, the involvement of parents and the impact of mobile phone use. The information youngsters receive on their mobile phones is “not innocent” and parents should “monitor their children’s activities,” she said.
As Education Minister, Ms. Demir is keen to achieve a clearer understanding of the extent of radicalisation in schools. This, she said, prompted her to instruct her administration to conduct the survey, which is expected to be completed by Spring.
The aim is to use the results to address “radical behaviour” effectively, she explained.
