Peace and Emergency Education

© UNICEF/NEP3063/SaShrestha

Many schools were caught up in the recent conflict, and students and teachers were prevented from attending school by strikes and intimidation. In response, the National Coalition for Children as Zones of Peace (CZOP), a 36-member body of national and international agencies, was established and has been advocating for children’s rights, from prioritising children’s issues in the peace process to discouraging the increasing use of children in political activities.

In order to help create a culture of peace and understanding of human rights and civic literacy, the government is preparing to introduce a range of peace-based learning opportunities into the national curriculum.

Nepal is prone to natural disasters such as flooding and earthquakes that can result in the displacement of whole communities. UNICEF is the lead for the education in emergencies cluster, and is working with other UN partners and key INGOs to strengthen both preparedness and response when needed.

Activities

• Support the development of codes of conduct for Schools as Zones of Peace (SZOP), targeting Terai districts and reformulating the programme to fit the current context.
• Support the Curriculum Development Centre and the Ministry of Education and Sports to develop peace education curricula for both formal and non-formal education sectors, produce peace education materials, train teachers/ facilitators, and pilot the curricula in selected districts.
• Support disaster response preparedness activities, including review of Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, development of emergency education materials, and development of agreement with the government regarding roles and accountabilities.

Expected results

Codes of conduct for schools as zones of peace will be developed, and will be nationally respected. Children will understand their rights to political expression and will not be used in political activities against their free will. Peace education and civics education will be integrated into primary and secondary level curricula in both formal and non-formal settings. Children will have the skills, attitudes, values and knowledge necessary to understand and assert their rights within a framework of the rule of law; to develop the values of tolerance and commitment to peace and justice; and to build critical thinking, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills to function as citizens in a post-conflict environment.

A pre-positioned emergency education stock management system will be in place. Contingency plans for four likely emergency scenarios will be developed for the education sector.