Sialkot: July 21, 2010. (By Fr. Qaisar Feroz) The National Council for Interfaith Dialogue (NCID) organized one day training seminar for the teachers of Sialkot on the theme of ‘Education for Peace and role of teachers.’ The seminar began with the peace prayer of St. Francis. The participants sang this peace-prayer-song while holding candles in their hands which signified their commitment for promoting peace through imparting education to their students. The growing religious, political and ethnic conflicts within and outside the country have given a new vision to NCID. It is with this vision that NCID looks forward to make children ambassadors of peace. The training seminar consisted of three sessions. Prof. Ijaz Butt, in the fist session, spoke about the educations system in Pakistan and the role of a teacher. Prof. Fr. Qaisar Feroz, in the second session, gave input on peace education and the responsibility of teachers. The third session provided teachers with an opportunity through a workshop to discuss and share their experience, insights and ideas in the light of some questions concerning peace education. Ms. Veronica Arshad, while introducing the theme of the seminar, explained as she said, “A teacher besides curriculum, instills moral and social values in the students. The teachers contribute to the moral, social, emotional and intellectual growth of the students. A teacher plays a central role in the construction of a peaceful society. “A teacher, by forming students to become peaceful citizens, lays down the foundation of a progressive nation”, she said. Mr. Nasir Nayar, the facilitator of the first session, said, “There is need to put an end to the dark era of terrorism by establishing peace, brotherhood, and solidarity.” He appreciated the untiring efforts of NCID for promoting peace and social harmony in Pakistan. Prof. Ijaz Butt, the retired professor of Murray College, identified three types of teachers: 1. teacher by accident; 2. teacher by chance and 3. teacher by choice. He said many social problems, in our country, are due to lake of quality education. Many teachers are teachers by accident or they become teachers by chance. There are very few teachers who dedicate their lives to serve by choice. He highlighted one of the main reasons of terrorism as he said, “Due to poverty many parents are unable send their children to schools. When these children grow up, they join all kinds of organizations and unions that misuse them for their own selfish agenda.” He noticed this phenomena as a major obstacle in the path to peace. Addressing the participants of the seminar Ms. Norma Khokhar said the devotion and hardworking are very important things in the field of education. Due to increasing poverty level in the country many parents remain unable to provide education to their children. This is the reason that those children become convicts while reach their youth hood. They start working for the groups who create hurdles in the way towards peace. Growing terrorism is a thoughtful moment for the whole nation of Pakistan. Peace Education is the only way that can develop better understanding between different nations, religions and civilizations. Parish priest of Pasroor, Fr. Bernard Emmanuel urged teachers to organize programmes and seminars to promote peace so that children may continue their efforts for the development of peaceful environment. Fr. Qaisar Feroz, professor of Communication and Mass Media at the National Catholic Institute of Theology, said that education for peace can enable students to establish a positive relation with other cultures, nations and faith traditions. “Peace education is a conceptual framework through which teachers can communicate to students the values of justice, freedom, responsibility, dignity and respect of each others faith. To implement this idea it is absolutely necessary that students are guided to establish peaceful relation with oneself, family, community and peoples belonging to variety of cultures”, he explained. he demonstrated with examples how attitudes are shaped and grow. It is spread over to all aspects of their school life. So teachers have the core responsibility to educate children in peace by dedicating special attention to their emotional and psychological growth. Mrs. Zareena Shahid, the district education officer and the chief guest of the programme, said that the role of a teacher is meant to be a milestone on the way towards progress of a nation. Teacher prepares the leaders of the future. She recommended having such text books for each stage of school, college and university to promote interfaith harmony and peace. “The government should take this concrete step to form the new generation in peace and help them grow free of prejudice and hatred against others”, she said. Fr. Francis Nadeem, the coordinator of NCID and the parish priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church, said that there is a need of such education that can establish peace in the society. Instead of extremists and fundamentalists our society needs peace loving teachers who impart education without discrimination of religion, caste or color. Beyond the syllabus there is need to create e awareness among the children to become peace-loving and progressive citizens of the future. Teachers have to work for restoration of peace so that they may become exemplary for their students and become ambassadors of peace. Education of ethics must not be meant exclusively for non-Muslim students, it should be made so that they can learn to respect other religions and may get awareness about common values in all religions. There is also a need to amend the substandard and unethical language of the textbooks. He thanked all the participants and speakers of the seminar. The teachers, at the end of the workshop, passed a resolution which is as following: 1. We, the teachers, promise to teach our students the common the common values that exist in world religions. We will teach students to respect all the religions. 2. We promise to make children the ambassadors of peace so that development and prosperity becomes a reality in our country. 3. We appeal to the government of Pakistan to add lessons of justice and peace so that the values of tolerance, acceptance and dignity grow in our children. 4. we appeal to the government of Pakistan to add the stories of the Christian heroes in all the text books of schools and colleges who played the crucial role in the freedom and construction of Pakistan. 5. The text book of ethics should not be only for the Christians but for all, regardless of religion or faith tradition. Rev. Fr. John Joseph, Javed Gull, Babu Patras William, Babu Akhtar Ramzan, Babu Patras Asi, Sr. Veronica, Principal St. Joseph’s School Fateh Garh, Principal St. Anthony’s Boys’ School Basharat Gill were among the prominent guests while a number of teachers of different schools were also present in the seminar.