Teachers’ perception on peace education in Senior High Schools in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Peace education is the blood of peacebuilding in schools and society as a whole. Although peace education is very important in promoting peace and harmony, there is a scarcity of studies on teachers’ perceptions of peace education in Senior High Schools. This study sought to investigate the teachers’ perceptions of peace education in senior high schools in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of Ghana. A case study design with qualitative approach was employed to enable the researcher to seek in depth knowledge from the participants. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 10 participants. The study revealed that the implementation of the peace education programme is effectively done in the schools, the teachers teach peace related topics such as human rights, sustainable peace and development, nation building, conflict resolution, tolerance, gender equality, and equity. In addition, the study revealed that a number of the teachers employed teaching approaches such as discussion, role-play, demonstration, and drama in teaching peace education in the schools. Peace education empowers students to respect human rights and promote social responsibility. Inadequate teaching and learning materials such as textbooks, television, CDs, cardboard, and flashcards hindered the teaching of peace education. Indiscipline among students poses a challenge to the teaching of peace education in schools. Peace education is an instrument for reducing violent conflict in schools and societies. The study therefore recommends that government should provide adequate teaching and learning materials regarding peace education to schools for effective teaching of the programme.