Members of Sydney's Muslim community lay floral tributes to the victims of Sydney's cafe siege in Martin Place
IN PHOTO: Members of Sydney's Muslim community lay floral tributes to the victims of Sydney's cafe siege in Martin Place, December 18, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Selected schools in Australia will soon have closed circuit camera systems and more security guards. The added security is part of efforts to deter terrorism.

About 54 schools across the country were selected for the three-year funding program and half of them are Jewish or Islamic schools. Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan’s announcement came amid fears that the schools could become targets of terrorist attacks or violence due to “religious or racial intolerance,” reports the Daily Telegraph.

Keenan said the added support will be in recognition of the unique security circumstances that the schools face. The justice minister added that all children have the right to be educated in a safe and secure environment.

The promise of funding was made by the Attorney-General’s Department in 2014 when schools were asked to submit applications if they wish to have added security. The office of the Attorney-General said the government has committed $18 million to cover three years of support for the new Schools Security Programme. The programme is designed to provide funding to schools at risk of being attacked.

The programme will provide non-recurrent funding for security equipment and infrastructure including the cost of hiring more security guards. Out of all the schools in Australia that applied for security assistance, 29 of those approved came from NSW while 15 came from Victoria.

It was previously reported in 2014 that a group of young people had allegedly threatened to kill Christians and waved the ISIS flag while driving past a Maronite church and school in Sydney. NSW police had investigated the alleged incident in Sydney’s west last September.

Peter Kearney, branch president of the Australian Principals Association, told the Daily Mail about the issues of “social cohesion” which had been raised by other school principals. He said they see tension in the community and schools with the radicalisation of students becoming a “battle” for principals. They also expressed their concerns regarding the vulnerability of teens being recruited by ISIS.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously announced the government’s efforts to tighten citizenship laws in an attempt to prevent people from leaving the country to join ISIS fighters in the Middle East. Mr Abbott had warned that Australians who have joined terrorist groups will be treated accordingly.

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