What is Peace Education?

Peace education is value education. It is often used as a synonym for global education, and they are very alike in content. Both are education in the values of ethics and morals. Peace education is based on the Unesco recommendation from 1974 concerning education for international understanding, co-operation and peace, and education relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Peace education encourages one to ponder questions of human value and justice. It seeks to develop a moral and social sense of responsibility, and to foster an understanding which transcends societal and cultural barriers. Peace education is not merely lectures on laws and regulations, or workshops on minority issues. It is attitude adjustment with the purpose of modifying behaviour. Peace education deals with global problems and important values, such as democracy, equality, sustainable development, environmental issues, cultural diversity and dialogue between religions.

The methods used in teaching can be, for example, discussion and creative expression. The aim is to awaken the individual’s critical, independent thinking. The participants can, for instance, discuss what causes inequality in the world, what we all can do for human rights, peace and the environment, what kind of action increases interaction and mutual understanding, and how we can learn to respect different cultures and religions.

Media education is also a part of critical thinking skills. It teaches us to understand the structure and function of media, and the way they produce meaning and indoctrinate in attitudes and values. Media education teaches to question the world view presented by the media. Instructional methods can include not only discussion and creative expression, but also other participatory methods, such as drama and role play. They help the student to step  into somebody else’s shoes for awhile, to experience inequality and being different, and to realize how important it is to respect other people and their rights. With the aid of drama, the nature of violence and its effects on the victim and the perpetrator can be studied. The aim is to find the causes underlying different conflicts, to understand different points of view and to learn non-violent ways to resolve conflicts.

Peace education is carried out in schools, youth work, organizations and recreational activities. In schools it is often incorporated into the teaching of e.g. history, religion and civics, but it can also be studied in other classes due to its interdisciplinary nature. Peace education deals with issues from the society, culture, economy, religion, health and the environment. Respect for life, non-violence and pluralism are subjects which can be discussed in all teaching.