Dimapur, September 13 (MExN): A webinar on ‘The Role of Teachers in Peace Education’ was organized by Peace Channel and North East Institute Of Social Sciences & Research (NEISSR) on September 11 with Roseline Dzuvichu, Reader, SCERT and Nini Sekhose, President, All Nagaland Private Schools Association (ANPSA) as the resource persons.
According to a press release from the organisers, Dr Fr CP Anto, Director, Peace Channel and Principal of NEISSR, emphasised on the role of teachers as agents of peace. In his introductory words, he explained the context and the objectives of the webinar— to enable the teachers from around the state to engage themselves to create ‘a culture of peace’ among the school children. He explained on what peace education is, the importance of peace education and the concept of peace building in the context of Nagaland.
Peace Channel and NEISSR movement looks forward to create a wave of peace among all the different levels of the society in Nagaland and looks forward to make the state ‘the most peaceful state by 2030.’
In her presentation, Sekhose pointed out that Peace Education is one of the most important activities required at the present confusing time and also congratulated Peace Channel for delivering justice by promoting peace in the different levels of the society. She emphasised on the role of teachers in creating peace starting from the micro-level; Classroom which is expected to be enhanced to greater environment by the students themselves, the release stated.
Peace is about transforming negative situations or potential conflicts into more positive situations and that is what most teachers do every day in their classrooms. Hence, teachers need to practice the values of acceptance, right attitude and non-judgemental perception in the classroom environment being the models of education and that effort should be appreciated, it said.
Sekhose also asserted that the state needs to facilitate a generation that cares. She said that peace begins with recognizing and accepting differences in the classroom. We need to start teaching our children to respect and appreciate differences and reinforce moral values and explore characters, for harmonious environment. Love is the prime quality to make all these happen, Sekhose added.
Roseline Dzuvichu presented that teachers are playing the most critical and important role in the upbringing of the children of a country, and for the same, teachers are potential peace builders in their own profession and teachers should also practice skills such as integrity, conviction, commitment, self-discipline etc. She highlighted that peace education is a need of the hour to be included in the educational curriculum and in all the subject matters. Teachers are also channels of peace in the society, being the motivators and educators of students in the schools. Many a times, the personality of a teacher is more trustworthy to the students more than their own parents.
Both the teachers and the parents need to get into a paradigm shift in order to develop their children for the best desired future. She also extended that teachers are not simply teachers in schools but also facilitators, mediators and parents for the students in the schools.
Trainer and Consultant Vitono Gugu Haralu who moderated the session highlighted Peace Channel as a peace building movement working with the school children, youth in the colleges as well as, forums in the community level. Through its various programmes and activities, Peace Channel engages the different levels of the communities in peace building and conflict transformation.
Also, NEISSR is a professional institute for Masters in Social Work (MSW) specialized in Peace and Conflict Transformation studies, Youth development and Community Development studies, the release stated.
The webinar was attended by around 80 teachers from different districts in Nagaland.
