Tuesday, 13 june 2006

Minister says peace education vital for culture of peace

ADDIS ABABA - Education Minister Dr. Sintayehu Wolde-Michael says that peace education is one of the most significant ways to promote a culture of peace, which is an agenda of all people and governments throughout the ages.

Dr. Sintayehut was opening an international conference titled “Strategies for Peace with Development in African; the role of Education, training and research,” at the African Union here yesterday.

“Peace is a prerequisite not only for development but also for the very survival of life on earth,” he said adding that sustainable development would only be achieved through education, peace and development.

The Minister emphasized the relationship of education, peace and development saying as they have strong connection between them.

“We do not have any misgiving that there is a strong correlation between education development and peace, the enhancement of one nurturing the other,” Dr. Sintayehu said.

He said that with those understandings, all concerned body in Ethiopian were currently doing their best for the expansion of education.

“Fully aware of the role of education plays in peace and development, the Ethiopian government gave priority to the overhaul of the education system of the country, he said adding that the country’s educational achievement was quite remarkable.

The Minister further pointed out the role of education on development of democracy and said that the introduction of Civic Education in Ethiopian education system has been playing a significant role.

Patrick Mazimhaka, Deputy Chairman of the African Union, also said in his opening address that getting someone with understanding and dealing of inter-linked factors that influence peace and development, has now becoming a challenge.

“Therefore, human security as a whole is important for the promotion of international peace, security and development,” he said.

Mazimhaka stated that the conference could play significant role to understanding challenges that face the continent.

He said, however, that education as tool for peace was rarely invoked and was still alien to many policy makers.

“The challenge we face today is to establish a balance between legitimacy of our institution [the state] and civic responsibility,” he said adding that this could only be achieved through education.

Many African universities, international organizations, institutions and many more experts have been attending the three-day conference that will discuss on several issues including presentations of cases and sharing of experiences.

The three-day conference was organized by the University of Peace with the African Union.

(ENA)