UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF THE NEED FOR PEACE EDUCATION IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
Emmanuel Gana, PhD
Department of Arts and Social Science Education,
Faculty of Education
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Abstract
He who wears the shoes knows where it pinches. The undergraduate students of Kaduna State College of Education have witnessed many constant violent clashes since 2011 general elections in Nigeria. Some of their parents, siblings, friends, and other relations were victims. Hence, the researcher sought for their views on how formal education could be used to foster peaceful coexistence in the neighbourhoods. This was the main objective of this study. Cross sectional survey design was adopted. Ten male and female undergraduate students were randomly sampled each from the six departments for the Focused Group Discussions (FGDs). One hundred and twenty participants were used for the study. The findings revealed that education is a necessary tool to eradicate ignorance and religious fanaticism or sentiment for peaceful coexistence. Therefore, the paper recommends that class and group activities in and outside the classroom among students of different age, tribe, religion, gender should be enhanced. They should be made to work or learn together as partners in progress irrespective of their background and other differences that project the lesson of unity; and moral instruction should be made compulsory for students or learners at all levels of education. Emphasis should be on critical thinking, taking the right decision at the right time, respecting the sanctity of human life and being held accountable for their actions and inactions.