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CONCEPT OF PEACE EDUCATION


         INTRODUCTION
Conflict resolution education programs focus on developing critical skills and abilities for a person to deal constructively with conflict. In most cases these programs occur in schools, but they may also be used in after-school programs, community centers, church groups, etc.
What do children learn in conflict resolution education? These programs give children an understanding of the nature of conflict-what conflict is and how it develops as well as what one can do to manage it. Children learn to appreciate that conflict exists whenever there is a disagreement about goals and/or methods to achieve those goals; and as a result, conflict is natural, necessary, and important. Children learn to understand the dynamics of power and influence that operate in all conflict situations. Furthermore, they become aware of the role of culture in how we see and respond to conflict.
An awareness of the nature of conflict helps children appreciate the variety of ways that people can manage or respond to conflict-another common program component. By learning a range of conflict styles (such as competing, collaborating, accommodating, avoiding, and compromising), children can consider the advantages and disadvantages of each. As effective conflict managers know, no approach to conflict management works all the time; the key is to know which approach is best for the situation at hand. However, conflict resolution education emphasizes that a violent response to conflict is almost never an appropriate response.

 MEANING AND SOME DEFINITIONS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PEACE EDUCATION

 Definitions of Conflict Resolution • “Conflict resolution is a range of methods for alleviating or eliminating sources of conflict.” —Wikipeadia • “Conflict resolution is the understanding of dynamics of human negotiation among confiding interest groups and how to achieve mutual agreement.” —Bill Warters (2000)
The Peace Education Working Group at UNICEF defines peace education as "the process of promoting the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed to bring about behavior changes that will enable children, youth, and adults to prevent conflict and violence, both overt and structural; to resolve conflict peacefully; and to create the conditions conducive to peace, whether at an intrapersonal, interpersonal, inter-group, national, or international level" (UNICEF 2004) Gavriel Salomon states that peace education usually includes such topics as "antiracism, conflict resolution, multiculturalism, cross-cultural training, and the cultivation of a generally peaceful outlook" (Salomon 2002: 7). Using the UNICEF definition and Salomon's conclusion, we may consider peace education the larger effort and conflict resolution education as one of the key areas within peace education.

ROLES OF PEACE EDUCATION IN RESOLVING CONFLICT

1.        Role of Peace Education in Resolving Conflict • Conflict is a part of life, and its nature is neither good nor had. An important aspect of conflict is that it includes potential for change, and it is in this context that Peace Education addresses the issues of conflict, conflict resolution and its management techniques to teach students how to take creative approaches to the conflict situations. Thus students can gain knowledge and skills related to personal growth and development, self-esteem and respect of others, and developing competence for a nonviolent approach to future conflict situations.
2.       Conflict resolution can be understood as the central goal and core of Peace Education. Hence the aim of Peace Education is to provide people with the skills they need to cope with conflict in a constructive way. • The international role in Peace Education is also expanding in preventing escalation and reconciliation (understanding) of conflict between warring parties of individual, community and international level.
3.       If we intend to create a peaceful society we must renew our educational society, which would not have any scope for inculcating human values. It is Peace Education which inculcates and builds love, friendship and international understanding, respect and care for the community life, ecological integrity, social and economic justice, democracy and nonviolence to build a sustainable and peaceful global society. For those in the midst of conflict, Peace Education may sow the seeds of understanding and provide nonviolent tools where violence is the accepted norm.
4.       Peace Education helps to understand where and why conflict occurs; and also offering skills (for both adults and students) to manage, reduce, and work toward minimizing conflict.
5.       As J. Krishnamurthi stressed “Without an integrated understanding of life, our individual and collective problems will only deepen and extend. The purpose of education is not to produce mere scholars, technicians and job hunters, but integrated men and women who are free of fear; for only between such human beings can there be enduring peace.” For those who are emerging from conflict, Peace Education presents an opportunity to confront the historical myths that often contribute to conflict.


CONCLUSION

 In conclusion, conflict resolution education and peace education programs suggests that both areas overlap considerably. They basic motivations are similar, the goals for programs are similar, and the key skills and content are similar. Sommers (2001) notes that similarities are also shared between peace education and many kinds of "values education programs," such as human rights education, antibias training, and tolerance education. These all share a commitment to enhancing the quality of life by emphasizing the dignity of life. In all three examples, violence is rejected and participants are encouraged to find alternative ways of handling problems.

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