Teachers Role Imperative in Transforming Youth Towards Peace Building: AU Education Head

Addis Ababa May 22/2018 Teacher’s role is crucial in fostering peace in Africa and education is a key positive instrument leading individuals towards peace, reinforcing non-violent norms as well as resilience to violent extremism, AU Education Division Head Beatrice Njenga said. A two-day workshop on Teachers Training and Development for Peace-Building in the Horn of Africa and Surrounding Countries kicked off here today. In her opening remark, Njenga said Africa’s desire for shared responsibility, unity and integration for a continent of free citizens and expanded horizon can only be achieved through reinforcing the link between peace and education. “The Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) calls for peace education and safeguarding education in times of emergency and ensuring safe teaching and learning environments,” she pointed out. The Head emphasized that “the teacher is therefore, key in ensuring peace seeking dispositions and conflict avoidance mind-sets responsible citizens.” According to her, it is essential for African countries to explore and develop ways and means of building the capacity of teachers to make every subject an opportunity for peace. She added that with education as key platform for peace building, teachers play an imperative role in transforming the minds of young people. “The teachers training on peace education should focus on Dialogue-Centered Conflict Prevention and Resolution approach and nurture a culture of peace and tolerance in Africa’s children and youth through peace education,” Njenga stressed. The Head urged teachers to play active role in peace building process and see the reflection of their work in the society as success in other professions and overall development is the direct result of teaching. Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, Shinichi Saida said his country has been supporting the project as education is the key instrument for building sustainable peace. “The future lies in the hands of youngsters, if they are mindful of peaceful solution to any problem,” he said, and noted that “conflict must vanish from the world.” More than 2,000 teachers from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda were trained on transformative pedagogy for peace building through the support of Japan and UNESCO, it was learned. The number will reach 6,000 by the end of June 2018.