Created on: 23 Dec 2024 | Last modified: 24 Dec 2024
The EIS has called for a strong emphasis on education for peace throughout Scottish education, to equip young people with the knowledge and skills for non-violent conflict resolution and to help counter the rise in extremist views, most frequently on online platforms, in recent years.
In an increasingly turbulent world, with continuing conflict in Eastern Europe, parts of Africa and the Middle-East, and with the growth in disinformation and misinformation online, education has an important role to play in equipping young people with the skills to navigate the many sources of information available to them and in supporting them to consider alternatives to violence, repression and war, that are founded on the principles of peace and democracy.
The EIS has refreshed its policy on Education for Peace, including an Executive summary as a shorter, easy-to-read, guide to the types of ideas, resources and materials that can support learning and teaching in Education for Peace.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “In an increasingly turbulent global environment, with bitter conflicts both in Europe and further afield, it is important that our young people are supported to make sense of the world in which they live.
"It has long been said that the first casualty of war is truth, and this continues to be relevant today, with young people faced with a dizzying array of information, from a vast array of sources and in a huge variety of formats, every day of their lives.
"Education for peace, is in effect, education for democracy, and can help to equip young people with the analytical skills needed to weigh up information and come to an informed position – essential for them to be able to be effective contributors and responsible citizens in our society."
Ms Bradley continued, “We have seen, just recently on our streets, the damaging consequences of how disinformation and misinformation can fan the flames of distrust into hatred and violence. The riots in many parts of the UK in July and August were largely the result of dangerous misinformation being spread, often with malice of forethought, via online platforms and social media.
"The resulting demonisation and ‘othering’ of asylum seekers, migrants and people from ethnic minorities led to some of the worst, most frightening scenes of violence that we have seen in the UK for many years.
"Many of those involved in the violence later admitted, when faced with the criminal justice system, that they had relied on unreliable and misleading sources of information in forming their views and acting upon them. The antidote to this is inclusive, quality education that includes education for peace."
Ms Bradley added, “Educating our young people in how to take a critical and analytical view of all types of information can support them in making important choices in all aspects of their lives. Educating our young people in non-violent conflict resolution could also help address the rising levels of violent and aggressive behaviour that very worryingly we are seeing in our schools.
"In this respect, Education for peace can play a vital role in allowing young people to make more informed decisions, and encourage them to play an active and constructive role in democratic society.
"It is where people rely on only a small number of biased and agenda-driven sources, that extremists can take advantage. Given the rise of extremism across the world and the associated threats to democracy, education for peace and democratic citizenship must be an urgent priority, with teachers and schools given sufficient time and resources to address it, if we are to enable young people create a better world for themselves and for all others now and in the future."
Read the EIS Education for Peace policy.
Voice Clip: EIS General Secretary, Andrea Bradley