SJS,
I do believe that the movement is to increase awareness because it was indeed somewhat lacking. I was also not taught about it formally in yeshiva but my rebbeim often told holocaust stories (even more so in camp), and as an avid reader of frum literature, (the CIS holocaust diaries series comes to mind) I was very exposed to holocaust stories and themes. One of my rebbeim is a survivor, and we heard much from him.