In response to the Commission on Higher Education CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 1 series of 2019 mandating the Integration of Peace Studies/Education into the Relevant Existing Tertiary Curricula, the Al Qalam Institute and Salaam Movement launched SALAAM: Spirituality of Service Peace Education Module.
Developed through a year-long process (initial meeting was held March 2018) of meetings and talks, the 54-page module is proposed to be integrated in the National Service Training Program (NSTP) in academes and universities.
“We aim to educate the youth”, Fatima Star Lamalan, Salaam Movement Project Coordinator shared during a recent press conference.
Salaam Movement is a special project under the Office of the President of the Ateneo de Davao University. A youth movement, it aims to empower young people to become leaders in developmental cooperation and peacebuilding.
“We are looking at Region 11 first”, Datu Mussolini Sinsuat Lidasan, Al Qalam Institute Executive Director and Bangsamoro Transition Authority Member said. “Once approved, we want to share it to everyone. We aim for more schools and universities to adopt the module”, Lidasan further added.
Founded in September 1, 2011, the Al Qalam Institute combines formation, instruction, research, and engagement (with public and private sectors) in order to effect peacebuilding efforts and social change. The Institute is involved in dialogues, forums, skills development and training for the Bangsamoro and its partners.
“Primarily, the module is a product of different educational system and of cumulative expertise of different schools”, Lamalan explained.
It is the product of the Salaam Movement’s Technical Working Group (TWG) on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) which is composed of School Administrators and Peace Educators from different public and private academic institutions in the Philippines.
Dr. Samuel Anonas, PhD, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs for the Mindanao State University System, shared that we all have our personal definition and principles of peace. “These principles were used to help us draft and complete the peace module,” he said.
Ryan Bradeen, US Embassy Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer, who was also present during the press conference, added. “For peace to prosper, there needs to be understanding”.
For Fr. Ernesto Estonillo, OPAPRU Peace Program Officer, he expressed that the best way to the culture of peace is through peace education. “There needs to be an increase in development of peace. Also, allocate more partners for peace for us to achieve our goal”, Fr. Estonillo explained.
The SALAAM: Spirituality of Service Peace Education Module is also available online.
