NSW Premier Mike Baird said an impending audit of prayer groups in state schools is not targeted at Muslims, but at minorities who might expose students to violent extremist ideologies.
Concerns about radical Islam reaching school playgrounds are not new, with one Muslim group raising the issue with Mr Baird several weeks ago.
Muslim groups said they are also disappointed they weren't consulted about the plan before the announcement, according to Shadow Education Minister Linda Burney.
"The Muslim Community has been trying to talk to the Premier about this issue for some months now without success,” she said.
Education consultant with the Australian Muslim Women's Association Silma Ihram told SBS that the audit could have planned better.
"I think the Premier felt that he needed to respond I just don't think that the details of it have been carefully thought out.” She said.
“Bringing in police and auditors and prinicipals, I think is not the best approach to begin with."
Ms Ihram said more training and more support was needed for those mentoring young Muslims.
‘I have been nothing but absolutely in awe of the Muslim leadership’
The announcement by the Baird Government follows allegations from counter-terrorism police that a 17-year-old has been preaching extremist ideology in the playground at Sydney's Epping Boys High School.
Police and the Department of Education have responded to a small number of incidents in the past year, including at Epping Boys High School.
Premier Baird said his government would not allow schools to “become the setting for extremist ideologies”, with the help of Muslim groups.
“We're doing this together... I have been nothing but absolutely in awe of the Muslim leadership,” Mr Baird said.
“They have been determined to stamp out extremism.”
With AAP.
