Vol. 437 No. 2
180 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if, with reference to the White Paper, any consideration has been given to the possibility of including a peace dimension in the curricular of primary and post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
In response to the publication of the Green Paper, my Department has received submissions from the Irish Commission for Justice and Peace and the Irish Peace Institute which address the issues of peace and human rights in the education system. This dimension of education will be considered in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on education. The guiding principle will be to ensure that human rights and peace studies are treated in the curriculum on a global basis, where relevant, rather than as a separate subject.
The Green Paper has among its principal aims the following: fostering an understanding and critical appreciation of the values — moral, spiritual, social and cultural — of the home and society generally; promoting self-esteem and self-worth, combined with a respect for the rights and beliefs of others; creating tolerant, caring and politically aware members of society.
The Green Paper also acknowledges that the development of social and political awareness, with the aim of creating knowledgeable, responsible and caring citizens who are aware of and responsive to the rights of others, is an important school objective.
The Deputy will be aware that in the social and environmental studies area, one of the aims of the present primary curriculum is to provide children with opportunities of planning and working together, thereby giving valuable training for peaceful co-operation in later life. At second level, the junior syllabus for civics has as one of its aims the inculcation of an understanding and acceptance of the principles of tolerance and peaceful co-operation with others.
