Which of the following best describes Peace Education?

Concept

Peace education is the planned development of the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that let learners prevent violence, resolve conflict without force, and live together in mutual respect. Its centre of gravity is the affective domain — attitudes and values such as non-violence, tolerance, empathy and cooperation — so it is defined by the value orientation it builds, not by the content of any single subject.

Application

Applying that definition to the descriptions offered here, the description built on the values of non-violence and tolerance names exactly this affective value orientation, so it is the best description of Peace Education. UNESCO and the National Curriculum Framework both frame education for peace in these terms: living together in harmony, respecting difference, and settling disagreement through dialogue.

Cross-check with the other descriptions

• Confining the programme to science and technology defines it by disciplinary subject matter, whereas peace education is cross-curricular and is carried through every subject as well as through the climate of the school.

• Discouraging group cohesiveness removes the cooperative, interdependent group work through which peace education develops empathy and conflict-resolution skills.

• Enforcing discipline through punishment is aversive external control, whereas peace education aims at self-discipline reached through dialogue, negotiation and mutual respect.

Hence Peace Education is best described as teaching the values of non-violence and tolerance.