Peace Education in Secondary Schools: A Strategic Tool for Peace Building and Peace Culture in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper discusses Peace Education as Strategic Tool for Peace Building and Peace Culture in Nigeria. This was prompted by the inherent incompatibility between the objectives of individuals, ethnic/social groups in Nigeria. The research question addresses Normative and Ethical issues regarding peace, the  absence of violence/hostility and its education in secondary schools were discussed; two research questions and two hypotheses where addressed. Eighty Nine (89) subjects (Teachers) were selected from 124 (Public and Private) Secondary Schools in Delta State. The internal consistency of the questionnaire items were tested using the Cronbach alpha method with a coefficient of 0.87. A mean and t test statistics was used to analyze the research question and hypothesis. The study revealed that peace and cultural harmony goes hand in hand, in order for peace education to gain academic acceptance it has to be defined in terms of the predominant culture of the society and that anti-social vices should be dispirited amongst Nigerian. It recommends that the golden rule and other ethical codes of conduct should be infused into the curriculum of secondary schools in Nigeria and that Government should advocate for cross cultural education if peace education is to gain a lasting grip in Nigerian.

Keywords: Peace Education, Peace Building, Peace Culture, Normative issues, Ethical issues, cultural harmony