ROLE OF VALUESBASED EDUCATION IN ADDRESSING YOUTH RADICALIZATION AND EXTREMISM

Abstract
The growing incidence of youth radicalization and violent extremism has become a pressing global concern, threatening peace, stability, and sustainable development. With young people increasingly being targeted by extremist networks, both online and offline, there is an urgent need for innovative, holistic, and long term strategies to counteract these influences. One such strategy is the integration of values based education within national and regional education systems. This article explores the critical role that values based education plays in addressing youth radicalization and extremism by cultivating essential human values such as empathy, respect, tolerance, critical thinking, and civic responsibility. Values based education goes beyond rote learning by focusing on the holistic development of learners, shaping not only their cognitive skills but also their ethical and emotional capacities. By embedding moral and ethical reasoning into the curriculum, this educational approach equips youth with the tools to resist extremist ideologies, critically analyze divisive narratives, and develop a strong sense of social identity and inclusion. The artic le delves into how values based education fosters intercultural understanding, promotes peaceful coexistence, enhances emotional intelligence, and nurtures responsible citizenship. Drawing on global case studies, academic literature, and policy frameworks, the article demonstrates that when schools become environments where values are consistently taught, modeled, and reinforced, the likelihood of youth falling prey to radicalization is significantly reduced. Additionally, the paper addresses the challenges associated with implementing values based education, including curricular constraints, teacher preparedness, and societal resistance. The findings underscore the importance of educational reforms, teacher training, and multi stakeholder collaboration to make values based education a cornerstone of national strategies against youth extremism.

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