By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The Acting Provost of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Dr Ahmed Jimoh Ayinla, has asked that schools curriculum be reviewed to accomodate Peace Education in secondary schools.
If this is done, Dr Ayinla insisted, would help in tackling the spate of insecurity in the country.
He averred that Social Studies as a subject being taught today in schools should by now include Peace Education for that purpose.
He said that Peace Education is an un-explored area of research and a tool for solving the myriads of problems bedevilling Nigeria as a nation.
Ayinla, a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Social Studies of the College made this recommendation while delivering the Second Inaugural Lecture of the College in Ilorin, the state capital.
The lecture was titled: ‘Social Studies Is Peace, Peace Is Social Studies: An Alliance That Replicates Human Existence.’
He had said, “The present Social Studies curriculum content in our secondary schools should be reviewed in such a way that the concepts that are relevant to Peace Education will be identified and reflected.
“Policy makers should not only plan for Social Studies and Peace Education in schools, but also provide adequate supervision for implementation.”
Tasking academics in the Social Studies related disciplines to conduct more research in Peace Education with a view to contributing their qoutas to solving the many challenges retarding growth and developments in Nigeria, Ayinla said, “There is limited expertise and capacity for Peace Education available in most tertiary institutions in some parts of the country.
“More social experts should see peace education as an opportunity to contribute to local and national development, considering the intensified rates of ethno-religious, ethno- communal, socio-political, socio-cultural conflicts, crisis and terrorism, mostly occasioned by incompatible goals and values that are bedevilling the contemporary society.”
The Inaugural Lecture was attended by the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr Kayode Alabi.
