Peace Education – JSS3 Social & Citizenship Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Peace education is the teaching of the skills, values and attitudes that help people prevent conflict and settle disagreements without violence or harsh words.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define peace education, peacebuilding, negotiation, mediation and tolerance.
2. Distinguish between positive peace and negative peace.
3. List four ways of building peace in a community.
4. State the steps of a good negotiation.
5. Describe the role of a mediator and name common mediators at home, in school and in the community.

What is peace education?

Peace education is learning how to live together peacefully and to handle conflict in a fair and non-violent way.

• Peace: a situation where people feel safe, respected and treated fairly. It means more than “no fighting” or “no war”.
• Conflict: a disagreement or clash between people or groups over needs, ideas or interests.
• Aim: to build a culture where people talk to settle quarrels instead of fighting.

Why do we need peace education?

We need peace education because disagreements are bound to happen wherever people live together.

• Diversity: Nigeria has many tribes, religions and opinions, so differences are common.
• Prevention: small quarrels that are handled badly can grow into crises that destroy lives and property.
• Skills: it teaches us to stay calm, listen and look for fair solutions.
• Culture of peace: it helps homes, schools and communities settle problems by talking.

What are the types of peace?

There are two types of peace: positive peace and negative peace.

Positive peace

• Meaning: peace that exists when there is justice, fairness and cooperation, and people are satisfied.
• Example: a community where everyone follows the same laws and has fair chances.

Negative peace

• Meaning: peace that exists only because there is no open fighting.
• Example: people stay quiet, but some are still angry or treated badly under the surface.

Positive peace compared with negative peace

What is peacebuilding?

Peacebuilding is the long-term work done to stop a conflict from starting, or from happening again after it has ended.

• Picture it: it is like building a house on a strong foundation so it does not collapse in a storm.

How do we build peace?

• Reducing poverty: many conflicts start when people lack food or basic needs. Providing jobs helps build peace.
• Justice and fairness: when everyone follows the same laws, people feel satisfied.
• Tolerance: accepting and living with a neighbour who speaks a different language or worships differently.
• Education: teaching people their rights and how to respect the rights of others.

Who is a peacebuilder?

A peacebuilder is any person who helps to prevent or settle conflict, and you do not have to be a politician to be one.

• Stopping a rumour: a student who refuses to spread a rumour is a peacebuilder.
• Helping friends make up: a student who helps two friends settle a quarrel is a peacebuilder.

What is negotiation?

Negotiation is a direct conversation between two people or groups who disagree, aimed at finding a middle ground that satisfies both sides.

• Who takes part: only the people with the problem.
• How: they meet face to face and talk about the problem.
• When: it is the first step to try when two people have a problem.

What are the steps of a good negotiation?

1. Stay calm: you cannot negotiate well if you are shouting.
2. Listen: try to understand why the other person is angry.
3. Explain your side: use “I” statements, such as “I feel hurt when you take my pen without asking”, instead of “You are a thief!”
4. Find a “win-win”: look for a solution where both sides get something they want.

Example of negotiation

• Problem: two students want the same library book at the same time.
• Solution: they agree that one uses it in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
• Result: a successful win-win negotiation.

What is mediation?

Mediation is a process in which a neutral third person helps two disagreeing parties reach an agreement.

• Neutral: the helper is not on anyone’s side.
• Mediator: the name of the neutral person who helps.
• When it is needed: when the problem is so “hot” that the two people cannot talk without getting angry again.

What is the role of a mediator?

• Takes no sides: a mediator does not say “You are right” or “You are wrong”.
• Guides the talk: everyone gets a turn to speak without being interrupted.
• Suggests solutions: the mediator helps the parties think of ideas they may have missed.

Who are the common mediators in our society?

• In school: a teacher or a prefect.
• At home: a parent or an elder brother or sister.
• In the community: religious leaders, traditional rulers and elders.
• Law courts: they handle cases that cannot be settled by talking. The court decides the case.

What is the difference between negotiation and mediation?

In negotiation, the two sides talk directly to each other. In mediation, a neutral person helps them talk.

What are the key terms in peace education?

Evaluation

1. What is the difference between negative peace and positive peace?
2. Give one example of how a student can be a peacebuilder in the classroom.
3. Why is it important to listen during a negotiation?
4. If two neighbours are quarrelling over a land boundary, who would be a good mediator to call?

Assignment

Write a short dialogue of six lines in which two students negotiate over a shared football. Use the four steps of negotiation and end with a win-win solution.