Stumbling Blocks to Peace Education in Africa

Abstract

This chapter discusses the critical issues which stand in the way of peace education in Africa. Peace education has been mainly confined to tertiary institutions and is failing to reach the ground; the pedagogy and andragogy of peace are yet to be well established as there is no standardisation and consistency which enable the smooth and effective teaching of peace. The lack of resources and teaching material are obstacles, and there is a need to deliberately make sure that there is impact on the ground as conflicts are not decreasing on the continent but increasing decades after the establishment of peace education. The chapter provides practical examples of overcoming some of these obstacles using Zimbabwe as a case study but also drawing examples from other African countries. The use of local material, such as newspaper articles, as teaching aids; a student-centred approach to learning; and the need to change the research approach are among suggested solutions to overcome the obstacles standing in the way of peace education in Africa.