Calls to Integrate Peace and Justice Education
Community members and education advocates have urged the urgent integration of peace and justice education into the basic education curriculum. This move is seen as a vital long-term response to the recent increase in violence inside and outside schools. The call for peace and justice education comes amid rising concerns over safety and student welfare nationwide.
Officials reported that recent violent incidents, such as the shooting of a 15-year-old student in Nueva Ecija and the fatal shooting of a teacher over a failing grade in Lanao del Sur, have deeply disturbed many. These events have prompted the Department of Education to implement stricter security protocols across schools, but advocates believe these measures alone are not enough to solve the root causes.
Root Causes Behind School Violence
Local leaders noted that these violent episodes are not isolated but rather manifestations of a deeper social and cultural crisis. Vladimer Quetua, chair of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, emphasized that the youth grow up in a society dominated by entrenched political dynasties and warlords, supported by powerful business interests and foreign influences.
He explained that this environment is further reinforced by commercialized media and a lack of genuine democratic participation avenues. “In such a society, the youth are both products of, and victims to, a system that fails to nurture their well-being and critical consciousness,” Quetua said.
Proposed Curriculum Changes to Foster Awareness
Quetua suggested that the Department of Education should develop solutions targeting learners’ current realities. He recommended the inclusion of peace and justice education grounded in the social conditions of the Philippines and the pursuit of equality.
“We can teach our children respect for human rights, justice and accountability if erring elites are dealt with accordingly, rather than tolerated and rewarded with even greater wealth and power,” he added. This approach aims to raise youth awareness about systemic injustices and inspire them to work toward a fairer society.
Supporting Student Well-Being and Expression
Beyond curriculum changes, advocates called for strengthening guidance and counseling services in schools nationwide. Providing adequate staff, private counseling spaces, and psychosocial support systems is essential to help students cope with challenges.
Community members also encouraged support for cultural and extracurricular programs such as school publications, theater, music, visual arts, and sports. These platforms can highlight people’s struggles and aspirations while rejecting content that glorifies violence, misogyny, and selfishness.
Furthermore, protecting academic freedom and fostering democratic spaces where students and teachers can openly discuss social issues is crucial. “Genuine peace in our schools cannot be separated from genuine peace in society,” Quetua concluded.
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