Teachers for Maintaining Peace and Security: The Goals of the United Nations
Suman Shukla on the important and oftentimes under-appreciated role of teachers in peace building and prevention of violent conflict worldwide.
Battling against Religious Extremism: The State of Madrassah Reforms in Pakistan
It is ironic that in the centralized education system of Pakistan, there are educational institutions with different curricula. This results from the existence of three main educational systems; public, private and madrassahs. The private system is expensive and out of the reach of majority of children in Pakistan. Therefore, public schools and madrassahs provide education to most Pakistani children, where some students are exposed to Islamic fundamentalism. While there was a shift in media and governmental policies towards Pakistani madrassahs after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA, it seems as though international interest in madrassah reforms in Pakistan has faded away recently, even though this issue still exists in all its severity as has been clearly illustrated by recent radical and furious actions from the Islamabad-based madrassahs.
The Fight in Arizona for Progressive Education in the Classroom
There is a huge debate in Tucson, Arizona regarding the elimination from the school curriculum of specific lessons in Mexican-American studies. The argument is that these lessons cause rifts between the school children, further dividing different ethnicities and causing an anti-USA campaign. However, in attempts to protest the new legislation, others argue for the value of the teachings and are pushing to continue the lessons that have been taught for decades. Shakena Goode offers an educated opinion on the situation, with hope for the future of educational liberty in Tucson and beyond.
Unmet Needs of Limited English Proficient Students in the United States
It is a common observation that national school systems are better able to meet the needs of some students than others — and that certain groups “fall through the cracks”. In US schools, drop-out rates for Spanish speaking students are disproportionately high, reinforcing economic and social divides between Latin American communities and the broader US population.
Peace educator Julia Brock investigates these trends and argues that US schools should prioritize the needs of students with limited proficiency in the English language.
Valuing Society through Peace Education
Valuing Society through Peace Education Author: Sabrina Sideris Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 10/21/2005 Category: Interview Kazutoshi Yoshino is a student in the Peace Education Programme at UPEACE this year. A member of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist association founded in 1930 in Japan, Kazutoshi strives, like other SGI members, to […]
Ethical Issues in Peacekeeping Operations in Africa
In this paper, Oluwaseun Bamidele initiates a dialogue on the fundamental issue of ethics in peacekeeping operations in Africa, particularly as it influences the adoption of a professional code of conduct. Theoretical concerns are treated in depth, various criticisms and arguments are raised, and each stage in the process of planning, implementing, and evaluating operations is considered.
Education’s Role In Combating Terrorism, Violence and Extremism in Iraq
Majid Ahmed Salih discusses his initial research into the question of how the education system can be used to promote security and prevent terrorism and violence in Iraq.
Church/State Relations in Multi-Sector Development
Paper Presented by Gale Mohammed-Oxley on the theme of Education in a Multi-Cultural Society: Challenges and Opportunities, as part of the Trinidad and Tobago Education Conference 2011: Maximizing the Role of Education in a Changing Society.
Chatting about Peace
An interview conducted by Vicky Rossi with Ms Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Rector of the Universidad para la Paz, and Prof. Abelardo Brenes who is Head of the Peace Education Programme, University for Peace. The interview originally appeared on the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research website, and was conducted via e-mail.
‘Miracle on the Han River’ Evaluated with the Perspective of Amartya Sen: The Development Case of South Korea
Hansoal Park analyzes South Korea’s historical post-war economic development process, known as the ‘Miracle on the Han River’. Shedding light on widespread abuse of labour rights as the means toward economic growth under the 18-year dictatorship of Park Chung Hee, she raises the controversial question of whether human rights repression is helpful for achieving rapid development. Comparing South Korea’s experience with Amartya Sen’s emphasis on ‘Development as Freedom’, Park concludes that “human rights should never be disregarded for the longevity of an authoritarian regime that justifies its actions for the sake of rapid development.”