Schools are to be enlisted in the fight against home-grown terrorism with plans for Imams to be sent into schools to steer children away from radicalisation, the government will announce next week. The schools secretary, Ed Balls, unveiled guidance on Tuesday, developed with the Home Office and Department for Communities and Local Government, advising schools, police and local authorities on how they can work together to combat terrorism. It forms a central part of the government’s “prevent strategy” to tackle violent extremism. The guidance includes British-born Imams leading citizenship lessons to give a counter view to the “al-qaida version” of Islam – clerics would be vetted to ensure they do not hold radical views. It also mentions theatre groups that could bring positive role models into youth groups to inspire young people and “make sure they feel part of society”.http://themuslimweekly.com/newsdetails/fullstoryview.aspx?NewsID=ABD73BE86DF62D567EA4CECB&MENUID=HOMENEWS&DESCRIPTION=UK%20News
