PESHAWAR: Speakers at an orientation session here on Tuesday asked for inclusion of ‘peace education’ in the curriculum of schools and seminaries to promote tolerance, social cohesion and respect for differences among children.
The orientation session titled “Importance of Peace Education” was arranged by PAIMAN’s at a local hotel on Thursday.
“In our environment inclusion of peace in education is necessary. It allows opportunities for children to put peace-making into practice, both in the educational setting and in the wider community,” said Mossarat Qadeem, PAIMAN’s Executive Director.
The aim of the event was to hold a discourse around the importance of peace education and concepts related to tolerance, pluralism, interfaith/intra-faith harmony, human rights and Islam and concept of Peaceful communities in the curriculum of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, officials of the education department, media, civil society, Academicians, management of private schools and madrassah participated in the session. The participants showed a strong desire that Peace Education must be a part of our curriculum.
Mossarat Qadeem added that inclusion of peace education is the need of the hour and many of the issues of intolerance hate and extremism can be addressed through it. It is time to start thinking of including such concepts in our curriculum to sensitize future generation regarding violent free tolerant society.
Mr Arshad Khan Secretary Elementary and Secondary Education Peshawar stressed that including peace education in the curriculum will develop acceptance for diversity and respect for all communities, religions and sects among the students although it requires time and commitment.
Mr Alamzeb, Secretary Text Book Board Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was of the view that inclusion of peace education is the need of the hour and many of the issues of intolerance hate and extremism can be addressed if we include peace education in our curriculum.
Ms Bushra Hyder, Head of Qadeems Lumiere, a pioneer in introducing Peace Curriculum in her school, shared her experience that how students start thinking positively once expose to aspects of human rights, peace pluralism, tolerance and peaceful co-existence within the context of Islam and the role that teachers and parents can play in promoting tolerance and love for diversity in children.
