The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE)-Barmm, in conjunction with the Schools Division Office of Cotabato City (SDOCC) and Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) Philippines, organized the inaugural Bangsamoro Peace Education Summit Conference at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center, Bangsamoro Government Center. This significant occasion not only commemorates the 5th Bangsamoro Foundation Day but also acknowledges the 10th Anniversary of Peace Day in Mindanao. The summit aimed to highlight the essential role of peace education in fostering sustainable peace and development in the Bangsamoro region. Through collaboration with HWPL, SDOCC spearheaded the adaptation of 12 HWPL Peace Education Lessons, developing lesson examples tailored for Bangsamoro learners.
These examples adhere to the principles outlined in MBHTE's framework for peace and justice education, aiming to imbue learners with the principles of a nonviolent culture, social justice, and a profound regard for human rights, freedom, and inclusivity. A dedicated team of 28 contributors, including educators from Grades 1-12 across different schools, 8 illustrators, 5 layout artists, and 3 facilitators, collaborated to seamlessly integrate Peace Education into Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (Values Education) subjects.
Seventeen assessors, including Education Program Supervisors and principals from SDOCC led by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Concepcion Ferrer-Balawag and Curriculum Implementation Division Chief Dr. Pancho Balawag, ensured the thoroughness of the plans, customized to address the distinctive educational needs and aspirations of Bangsamoro learners. During the event, SDOCC revealed the adapted Peace Education Lesson examples compiled into a textbook. HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee, conveyed through a video message, stated, "Now, the task is to sustain a world of peace forever. This textbook signifies the outcomes of numerous people's endeavors to reconstruct a community damaged by hatred and ignorance with love and wisdom. I hope that the radiance of peace will endure indefinitely in Mindanao and the Barmm." MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal praised SDOCC and HWPL for their initiatives, highlighting, "The Bangsamoro Education Code explicitly underscores the significance of peace education in our curriculum. MBHTE remains unwavering in the pursuit of peace education."
