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Within the framework of UNESCO and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism’s (UNOCT) joint project "Prevention of violent extremism through youth empowerment in Jordan, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia”, co-funded by Canada, more than 30 young students met on 22 February 2019 to reflect on the role and contribution of the education system (national education, vocational training and higher education) in Morocco’s national strategy to prevent violent extremism.

This focus group was the first in a series of meetings held as part of a national consultation in Morocco on issues related to the prevention of violent extremism through education. The workshop aimed at involving young people in the project, while also gathering their views on the subject and their proposals to make the education system a tool for building resilience.

The students, from different nationalities and backgrounds, defined violent extremism as “an ideology that divides the world into two (those who are ‘for’ and those who are ‘against’ this idea), using violence and seeking to produce a psychological impact such as fear among people ‘against’”. However, they added that, "it is sometimes difficult to identify violent extremism because some discourses are normalized," and that is why it seems essential to them to conduct studies that contextualize violent extremism and help clarify its specificities and differences.

The participants then worked in groups to define effective lines of action in three main areas:

• Young students' perceptions of the presence of violent extremism in education institutions and the impact of education on learners' behaviour (violent or peaceful);
• Young people's vision of education that provides learners with the means to become active promoters of more peaceful, tolerant and inclusive societies;
• The role and place of young people in the process of preventing violent extremism through education.

It emerged that “it was first necessary to delve into the reasons for radicalization. Extremist propaganda must be identified and action taken on the channels of transmission, i.e. the attractive speeches found mainly on the Internet. Faced with these discourses, it is necessary to develop young people's critical skills. At the same time, taboos on religious issues must be eliminated so that they can be discussed openly. Finally, it is essential to give more hope to Moroccan youth by involving all young people, regardless of their context, as agents of change.”

In order to guide the main actors in strategies to prevent violent extremism in the choice of educational tools and policies, the young students proposed to "define a clear objective of the education system in order to avoid a two-pronged education and to promote an education that ensures the integrity of everyone". They also recommended that, "teachers be given more training on their role in raising awareness and that new educational and interactive methods be introduced to better involve students and strengthen links with families".

Finally, students advocated for "the organization of learning sessions on non-violent communication in cases of conflict, the organization of discussions between former violent extremists and students so they are more aware and warned against propaganda, as well as the development of opportunities for student engagement in public service activities". 

On 1 March 2019, a second meeting was held to open a debate on the situation and the future of the Moroccan education system in the prevention of violent extremism with about ten researchers and experts who had worked on the issue. The meeting made it possible to highlight, on the basis of national experiences in this field, the various types of contribution of the education system to the fight against the phenomenon, to make a diagnosis of the Moroccan education system on the issue, and to highlight possible solutions for the future. 

On 15 March 2019, a third and last meeting brought together government institutions to discuss the issue. The various actors, from the Department of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs, the Minister of State for Human Rights, the Rabita Mohamadia des Oulèmas, and the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration, presented the commitments and actions undertaken to combat violent extremism. These actions are mainly related to the reform of the religious field, the promotion of the active participation of young people, human rights education, the fight against poverty, precariousness and social exclusion, as well as the reconciliation of former terrorist prisoners with society. This last meeting made it possible to capitalize on the efforts already made by the Moroccan State, and to develop concrete recommendations that emphasize the essential role of education in preventing violence, delinquency and extremism, and in promoting human rights.

The project "Prevention of violent extremism through youth empowerment in Jordan, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia" aims to activate the transformative power of education, science, culture and media to strengthen the resilience of young women and men. It aims to equip youth with the values, knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to become real agents of change.

Contact: Aicha Knidiri, a.knidiri@unesco.org