Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedom. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

We all recognize that the need of the hour is to inculcate within our children, a sense of peace consciousness and the importance of conflict resolution. But do we ever question the extent to which our schools might be responding creatively and with responsibility to the needs of one's age? Does the existing curriculum promote peace? Is co-operation and teamwork sacrificed on the altar of personal achievement and competition? Do we foster tolerance and understanding between varying perspective, beliefs, religions, communities and cultures? Do we forbid the use of violence by teachers in the maintenance of discipline? Peace education is a good description of the things most parents hope are taking place in their children's classrooms. For example: understanding cooperation, critical skills, debate, tolerance, emotional and social development

it is a shame that School children in india are mechanically conditioned to revere various great pacifists of the path, without being given an understanding of the core philosophy that they stood for, believed in and attempted to propagate. In direct contrast, today's Indian school child is obsessed with sensorial pleasures. Their existence revolves around the movies, the internet and gaming, much of which appears to justify - if not actively promote, glamourise and glorify - violence and vulgarity. Indian students are steeped in Western materialism. Viewing education as a painful but necessary means to the ultimate goal of amassing wealth.

Peace Education is the process of acquiring the values and knowledge and developing the attitudes, skills, and behaviors to live in harmony with oneself, with others, and with the natural environment. If we are to hold out any hope for the future of our society and our nation, we must recognize the importance and relevance of Peace Education, as a means to re-introduce and inculcate the right value systems in our children

Over the past 50 years, global events and human experience in general have given the quest for peace, a new urgency. Today, well into the 21st century, peace is no longer considered as just the absence of war but is conceptualized to include harmony at all levels of human endeavor. It is time we recognize peace as an essential human construct. One that must be inculcated in school children, in a systemic manner, through what has popularly come to be known as Peace Education. All of you recognize the pressing need for counteractive action, as you observe with growing dismay, the unprecedented levels to which children are being exposed to violence and vulgarity which are glamourised and glorifie in the movies, through gaming and on the internet. We believe and think you will agree that Peace Education could well turn out to be an effective counteractive force that we so desperately seek

It is a conceptual framework within which schools are assisted in devising a program, comprising the transmission of universal values, enduring attitudes and the development of skills, which will enable students to become active pacifists and responsible global citizens. The course is aimed at and tailored to 8 to 16-year-old children. Scientifically proven to be the critical stage in children's lives, when minds are most conceptually receptive and optimally retentive to what they learn. Also known to the key stage when children's personalities begin to take shape, even while they retain a degree of intellectual flexibility, not yet having developed fixed mind-sets or perspectives.

There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. It is indeed the path to a better tomorrow. A path now overgrown and obscured through sheer disuse. A path we desperately need to rediscover, clear and define. For it is the path that leads to a 'sublime' existence on earth, for all mankind. And you - who represent the future must lead the way. So that future generations can easily find the path. And gratefully follow in your footsteps.

Peace is not mere absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence and justic This is just the right stage in your mental development, for you to most optimally learn and imbibe the various aspects of peace: Non-violent conflict-resolution Social justice and equality Fraternal love, understanding and respect for all Secularism, tolerance, co-existence Cooperation and team-work Kindness and charity