CHED considering peace education in SUC curriculum

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is planning to integrate peace education in the curriculum of state universities and colleges (SUCs). (Photo by Benjie Ordoñez/Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0)

MANILA — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is planning to integrate peace education in the curriculum of state universities and colleges (SUCs).

“At this point, there are only a few universities which have included peace education in their curriculum. Most of these universities are in Mindanao, understandably because most of the war issues are in Mindanao,” CHED Commissioner Ronald Adamat said.

Adamat added that he has been advocating peace education among SUC presidents, and emphasized that a CHED memorandum needs to be crafted and approved so that all SUCs would integrate peace education in the curriculum.

Adamat told the Philippine News Agency that non-government organization Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) has approached CHED for partnership in the program.

HWPL described itself as an NGO that “aims to transcend differences in culture, belief and religion by engaging leaders and youth in sustainable and comprehensive solutions for peace”.

CHED and HWPL signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) Tuesday afternoon in Quezon City, to further promote peace education in the country. Adamat said that as a partner, HWPL could suggest activities and strategies to CHED.

After the MOA signing at the CHED office, the two held a peace lecture at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa Manila.

Meanwhile, Adamat said he could not give a timeline for peace education integration, as this would need to be done “in a very calculative way”.

He also pointed out that peace education may not be compulsory but an elective subject.