INFUSING PEACE: URGENCY OF PEACE EDUCATION IN PRE-SERVICE TEACHER TRAINING

Abstract

In an era marked by escalating global conflicts, social polarization, and environmental crises, peace education emerges as a vital cornerstone for shaping a harmonious future. This chapter emphasizes the urgent need to infuse peace education into pre-service teacher training to address the rising challenges of violence, intolerance, and social unrest in contemporary society. It explores the multi-dimensional nature of peace education, highlighting its core principles such as non-violence, justice, respect for diversity, and critical thinking. The chapter reviews existing national and international peace education initiatives, identifies curriculum gaps, and discusses research findings on the effectiveness of peace education in teacher preparation. It also addresses significant challenges such as resistance to curricular reforms, lack of trained educators, and political-cultural barriers. Practical pathways for integrating peace education are proposed, including curriculum reforms, experiential learning, interdisciplinary approaches, and collaboration with NGOs. Policy recommendations focus on institutional support, mandatory modules, faculty development, resource creation, and impact evaluation. Ultimately, the chapter argues that empowering teachers as peacebuilders is essential for nurturing inclusive, empathetic, and non-violent classrooms, thereby contributing to a more just and peaceful society.