Understanding the Indigenous Context for Peace Education in Temotu Nendo, Solomon Islands

Abstract

Conflict is one of the major obstacles to the achievement of Education for All (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly the sector goals of universal completion of basic education and achievement of gender equality in primary and secondary education. As conflicts are increasingly happening around the world, many countries recognised peace education as an important tool in conflict prevention and in the reconstruction of post-conflict societies. Hence, it warrants high priority in both post-conflict reconstruction and the future civilisation of peace. This paper focuses on understanding the indigenous context for peace education in Temotu Nendo, Solomon Islands. It examines the nature of Temotu Nendo indigenous knowledge and skills, the concept of nowe-peace and how this concept enables appropriate indigenous approaches to teaching and learning of the principles of peace. The paper concludes with implications for the peace education curriculum and highlights the author's peace education topic and questions that form his doctorial research.