In celebration of the Mindanao Peace Week, Ateneo de Davao University promoted peace education, human fraternity, and unity for a more stable and peaceful Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao through an open dialogue activity.
The Canadian government has approved the release of the funds to extend the implementation of the “1001 Nights Civic and Peace Education Program” to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“The 3-day training on peace education equipped me with the knowledge and skills in sharing peace education. It is needed to have peace of mind within ourselves before we can share with others,” said one participant.
Fr. Mercado became active in peace-building in the 1990s. As president of Notre Dame University in Cotabato City in 1992, he established the Institute of Peace Education.
MSU was also established for the tri-people of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan as a social laboratory for peace. In the campus, people from different ethno-religious backgrounds interact with each other.
Innovative peace education strategies such as music, arts, games, sports, storytelling, and service, are the tools utilized by the Teach Peace Build Peace Movement to make peace building more enticing to children.
On July 27, the Philippine President signed into law the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Under Article IX, the Education provision of the new law requires the government to institutionalize peace education in all levels of education.
Some 6,000 teachers deployed in five southern provinces in the past five years are now actively helping propagate interfaith solidarity among schoolchildren in support of the government’s Mindanao peace efforts.
The Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has intensified its interventions for school children affected by the Marawi conflict. A new program supports provision of basic education services, skills training, and peace education in schools.
Family feuds and community conflicts have been one of the biggest problems in the province of Lanao del Sur. Maranao People Development Center (MARADECA) Inc facilitated a seminar on peace education to address these problems.
Christian and Muslim leaders from Mindanao, Philippines, have signed a peace declaration in Rome which pushes for “peace education” in all school levels as well as their communities in order to foster an environment where amicable coexistence reigns.
Dr. Nagasura T. Madale, a cultural anthropologist, said it is important to strengthen peace education and start it among the young to prevent, in the longer term, the growth of violent extremism especially in areas of the country vulnerable to inroads by Islamic State-linked militants.