21/08/2026
Nurturing Seeds of Harmony: The Role of Basic Education in Peacebuilding
In Mindanao, lasting peace begins in early childhood. Speaking on , Assistant Dean, Prof. Johanna Rania U. Salic emphasized that basic education (K–12) is the most critical stage for introducing peace concepts, as it shapes young minds during their most formative years.
Central to this effort is the practice of empathy. Rather than treating peace as an abstract idea, basic education integrates empathy, active listening, and mutual respect directly into everyday lessons. Leveraging her background in peace curriculum training, Prof. Salic highlighted how educators are equipped to turn daily classroom interactions into practical lessons in conflict resolution and cultural understanding.
This mission is further reinforced through targeted institutional initiatives. Empowering programs nurture young students as "Batang Transformers," encouraging them to serve as peer peacebuilders and role models within their schools. At the same time, newly established offices like the C.A.R.E. Program provide structured guidance and a social wellness framework for both students and faculty. Ultimately, peacebuilding extends beyond the classroom by actively partnering with parents, ensuring that the values of empathy and unity learned at the MSU Integrated Laboratory School are reinforced at home to raise the next generation of community peacebuilders.
The main takeaway from this discussion is that peace is not built overnight in boardrooms, but cultivated daily in classrooms where empathy, inclusive curricula, and supportive home environments teach young learners to resolve conflict constructively.
This initiative aligns with SDG 4: Quality Education by fostering inclusive, equitable learning environments and peace education, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions by instilling conflict-resolution skills early in life, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through active collaboration between educational institutions, families, and local communities.