WHEN it comes to safeguarding schools from terrorist attacks, or the fallout from one, international ones here are stepping up security, while one aspect of local educators’ overall approach is education itself.

The Education Ministry is tightlipped on actual security measures in public schools here, saying only that teachers and school leaders highlight current issues and world events for students to discuss pertinent learning points.

Insight understands the ministry’s Character and Citizenship Education branch regularly puts together packages based on current affairs – such as the Paris attacks – to educate students in primary and secondary schools and junior colleges.

…Terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna says schools are increasingly targeted as terrorist groups aim to create fear in the community. “No one wants their child to be hurt. So attacking children is the ultimate harm a terrorist group can do to anyone,” he says.