THE Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is looking at the possibility of integrating peace consciousness into the nation's education system, to dissuade the youth from joining violent extremist groups.
"We believe that peace education is very important about learning the culture about peace and having the right education skills and mindset that will enable one to end situations of violence," OPAPRU chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said during a press conference on Monday, September 26.
Galvez said peace education has provided a positive impact in the society and the economy.
“Nakikita natin ‘yung (We see that) peace education will be the foundation to achieve peace because it provides a venue and understanding a mindset that peace cannot be achieved by force, but by understanding,” he said.
The OPAPRU official graced the National Peace Education Summit at the Apo View Hotel in Davao City.
The two-day summit, organized by OPAPPRU in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd), is aimed at institutionalizing peace education in the DepEd Peace Curriculum.
The peace adviser said the summit also aims to revisit the Executive Order 570, which institutionalized peace education in basic education and teacher education, signed in 2006.
"Meron tayong pangangailangan na i-intensify natin ang (There is a need to intensify) peace education, considering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the existing conflict that we have, nakikita natin na (we saw that) there should be some sort of positive learning on how we will instill culture of peace, and prevent violence from coming up," he said.
Dexter Galban, DepEd assistant secretary for youth affairs and special concerns, said there is a need to strengthen peace education "to dissuade our young learners away from radical and extremist groups that can be a major problem when it comes to peace proliferation and peace education process."
Galban said DepEd has rolled out peace education efforts for the past years. Gaps, he said, are being addressed in curriculum revisions.
He added that they are taking advantage of the review of the K-12 curriculum, and further evaluating how it can be incorporated in the curriculum.
"Very clear 'yung (It is very clear that there is a) directive of DepEd to make schools as zones of peace. Kaya ang kailangan nating paigtingin ang (That’s why there is a need to strengthen) monitoring and evaluation on different levels not only in terms of curriculum assessment, but also in terms of the environment and the setting of such rollout," the DepEd official said.
He added that there is a need to go beyond the curriculum, and outside the classroom.
"Through these non-formal means nare-recruit ang ating mga learners ng (learners are being recruited by) leftist groups or those that chose to attack government or put the government in the negative light," Galban said, adding there is a need to give the learners what the government is doing in addressing social issues, and to make them feel that their needs are being addressed.
Galban emphasized that DepEd Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte is a staunch supporter of peace education even when the latter was still mayor of Davao City.
However, he said there is a need to involve the parents and community in peace education by laying down groundworks and services of government agencies. RGL