Conflict is a huge challenge to many societies, both directly, through violence, and indirectly, through poor health, child deprivation, and stunted economic development. Education in times of conflict is essential to protect children, to build sustainable development and to help create a lasting peaceful environment. Education can be the first step in helping to develop the skills, attitudes, and mindsets that are essential to establishing a lasting peace, while also allowing children to gain the knowledge and the skills they need to create a better future.
What is Conflict?
Conflict is a systematic struggle between two or more parties which share opposing interests. It can take the form of Inter-State Conflict, where conflict occurs between two nations, as in the case of wars. It can also be Intra-State Conflict, where a conflict occurs within a single state, as in the case of civil wars. Furthermore, it can be internalised conflict, for example, when ideals, beliefs, and interests clash within a people or group of people. Conflict risks detracting from a country’s development, leading to poverty, social exclusion, and the collapse of law and order.
Impact of Conflict on Education
Education is one of the key areas that is severely impacted by conflict. Schools and universities are often even direct targets of violence because they are perceived to be symbols of civil liberty and justice. Conflict deprives children and young people of their right to education; disrupts their personal development as learners and citizens; and undermines the development of their communities and countries. Furthermore, conflict may cause children and young people to become internally or externally displaced, which can further disrupt learning.
The Role of Education in Peace-building
Education is a powerful tool for promoting peace-building, as it helps to promote understanding, agreement and redress of grievances, which are essential for peaceful societies. Education helps to discourage violence, develop mutual respect and knowledge about different cultures, and build understanding between different groups. Education can also help to instil a shared national identity, social cohesion, and trust, which are crucial to preventing the reoccurrence of violence. Moreover, education helps to build the technical and professional capacity needed for the effective management of a society in a context of peace.
Educational Strategies for Peace-building
In order to use education as a tool for peace-building, there are a number of strategies and initiatives that should be implemented in times of conflict. These include:
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Incorporating Conflict Resolution & Prevention into the Curriculum: Incorporating conflict resolution and prevention into the curriculum helps students to learn how to manage and resolve tensions in a non-violent fashion. This can be done through the use of open dialogue within the classroom, as well as through online and offline activities that help to foster understanding and mutually beneficial solutions.
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Educating Conflict Affected Communities: Educating conflict-affected communities, especially those in rural areas, strengthens knowledge and understanding about the conflict and helps people to develop skills for resolving it in a non-violent fashion. This can be done through the use of radio programmes, mobile schools and teacher training programmes.
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Peace Education: Peace education helps to highlight the importance of human rights, mutual understanding, respect and tolerance. It provides children and young people with the skills to deal with conflicts peacefully, resist violence and build mutual respect and understanding of different cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds.
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Holistic Educational Approach to Peace-building: Holistic educational approaches to peace-building are essential to effectively tackle the underlying causes of conflicts and to foster peace and development in the long-term. This can include initiatives such as project-based learning, the use of technology and ICTs, the provision of psychosocial support for children, and the integration of gender into educational activities.
Education plays an essential role in peace-building and conflict resolution, as it helps to promote understanding, trust and mutual respect between different groups. Education can give children and young people the skills and knowledge to tackle the underlying causes of conflicts, and to develop the capacity and skills for effective management and resolution. Education should therefore be seen as an invaluable tool for peace-building, and governments should invest in it in times of conflict to help reduce violence, promote social cohesion and build a sustainable peace.
