Forging peace through education

 

Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak

Learning Curve: Perspective

New Sunday Times - 28-10-2012

 

 

THE inking of the peace deal between the Philippine government and the Moro Liberation Front (MILF) brokered by Malaysia must be the high point for all the parties concerned.

 

This is particularly so when so many places around the world are being plagued by wars and violence, with no end in sight, some continuing for more than 50 years.

 

This puts the Mindanao peace deal on a unique exemplary pedestal especially in light of the recent announcement of the European Union as the Nobel Peace Prize winner this year.

 

The United Nations hailed the deal as setting a road map to a final peace settlement by granting broad autonomy in the southern Philippine region, putting an end to one of Asia's longest running insurgencies.

 

After four decades, peace is within reach, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was quoted as saying. He rightly pointed out that the agreement does not solve all the problems, but rather it sets the parameter in which lasting harmony can be found.

 

"This is not the end point, but a beginning," he said.

 

Malaysia went one step further by offering a helping hand in investing in and developing the region.

 

More importantly, this includes the offer of training and educating the Bangsamoro people so that they can sustain peace in their society. The region of Mindanao is known to be resource-rich and can be put to good use through sound education.

 

Peace without education can be fragile because more often than not it is the heart that rules the head.

 

That said, it must be noted that in May 2010, the Mindanao Association of State Colleges and Universities Foundation (MASCUF) was invited by the Research and Education for Peace Unit at Universiti Sains Malaysia (REPUSM) to begin the process of building peace through education.

 

The four-day Mindanao Educators Peace Summit was organised to discuss "transforming the conflict in Mindanao through peace education and quality higher education".

 

The summit was jointly organised by REPUSM, the Southeast Asia Conflict Network, Japan International Cooperation Agency and MASCUF.

 

The conference was followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to "establish the framework for understanding and cooperation" in the areas of staff and student exchanges, and the sharing of expertise, knowledge and information.

 

The MOU, which lasts till 2015, is aimed at promoting cross-cultural exchanges between USM and MASCUF;  enriching the academic and campus life of both institutions; providing support for academic and non-academic activities, and opportunities for  USM and MASCUF faculty to undertake joint teaching and research; as well as sharing best practices.

 

MASCUF is an active organisation of at least 30 state universities and colleges in Mindanao.

 

This is no doubt a historic event because it is the first time heads of states, universities and colleges in Mindanao have gathered in such numbers to discuss conflict resolution and peace education.

 

It took place in the quite recesses of the academic setting where it is more conducive to talk and give peace a chance by creating the right mindset and milieu.

 

With the Framework Agreement for the Bangsamoro set for 2016 as the deadline, MILF army deputy chief Sonny Davao says it is now publicly in place for the academe to urgently do its duty to help  transform the Bangsamoro because they have obligations to the people.

 

Foremost, more than 50,000 soldiers need to acquire new skills in anticipation of peace in Mindanao. Among the competencies identified are management, business as well as technical skills.

 

The Bangsamoro Leadership Management Institute is already at hand to carry out this noble duty of peace-building as there is still much to be done to reap the fruits of the Framework Agreement.

 

Here is where university leadership must come forward to ensure that a partnership of peace is forged through education as it is increasingly being recognised that creating harmony through a "bottom-up" process by means of education involving non-governmental organisations, religious sectors and community leaders could result in a more lasting peace than those imposed "top-down" -- although the latter is a good place to begin.

 

Perhaps the next Nobel Peace Prize will go to those who give the Bangsamoro a new lease of life by making the Mindanao deal a reality.

 

- The writer is the vice-chancellor of Albukhary International University