"It is an area of concern for principals and it is an area principals don't necessarily feel confident in," he said. He said the issue was not confined to one religion and many principals were reluctant to speak publicly over fears of a backlash. One principal who spoke to Fairfax Media but did not want to be named, said some parents at their school were extremists. At least two parents were fighting for IS in Syria. "We have to work extra hard to ensure students don't take up their parents extreme beliefs," he said. "I have them singing the national anthem with the Australian flag and say what a lucky country they live in." The state primary school was created following a merger with two other primary schools - one predominantly made up of students who belonged to the Shiite and Alawite Muslim communities and the other made up of Sunni Muslims.

There was a "very significant" number of suspensions in the first year of the merger as students from different sects fought in the playground, she said. "What's happening in the Middle East does impact here - the families are divided in their beliefs." The Education Department strengthened its ties with Victoria Police last year following the death of 18-year-old Numan Haider, who was shot dead after stabbing two counter-terrorism police officers in Endeavour Hills. Under a new arrangement, nominated staff in regional offices across the state will work with their counterparts in Victoria Police to provide advice and support to schools. "The department's nominated staff in regional offices are always available to advise and support school principals who may have concerns about a student's safety or wellbeing," an Education Department spokesman said. The spokesman said schools were like other parts of the community where young people may become marginalised or victims of racial, cultural or religious intimidation or bullying.

"Education is the best way to ensure young people are not marginalised, and embrace the values of respect, diversity and tolerance," he said. The department has also recently appointed a senior advisor to work with government and non-government schools on initiatives to promote tolerance and social cohesion. In an email sent to principals in January, the new senior adviser said her role was to promote community safety "especially in relation to the threat of radicalisation". Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Meredith Peace said extremism in schools was not a big issue she had come across. "Schools have clear values around racism and tolerance and engendering those policies," she said. "The problem for principals is they don't have decent enough support structures in place as a result of cuts by the former state government." A spokeswoman for Education Minister James Merlino said the Andrews government was committed to making sure all schools were "safe and secure learning environments". She said Labor would provide $600,000 to help schools develop emergency management plans and prepare for incidents that result from racial or religious intolerance.