Yogyakarta- As many as 51 teachers of religion and counseling followed Training on School-Based Conflict Management and Peace Building Course which is facilitated by Center for Security and Peace of UGM. The event lasting from 2-7 July 2011 is followed by teachers from Senior High Schools in Greater Jakarta, Aceh and Yogyakarta. “The model of event is conducted for the first time in Indonesia. We want to teach skills to teachers to solve conflicts peacefully at school,” Head of the Center, Dr. Samsu Rizal Pangabean, said on the sidelines of the event, Wednesday (6/7).
According to Rizal, up to now conflict resolution at schools is temporary, solved based on teachers’ experience in accordance with system and culture in the school. He mentioned that conflicts take the form of fighting, intimidation, excision, and threat between teachers and students. “We hope schools dare to institutionalize peaceful schools and peaceful classes by solving conflicts through peer mediation,” he said.
Further, Rizal added that identification of various conflicts occuring at schools and school’s experience in handling them will be made. “All participants will tell their experience,” he said.
UGM Vice Rector of Alumni and Business Development, Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M.Phil., Ph.D, said that teachers have very important role to educate students. Teachers who participate in the event are expected to improve their skills in transferring sciences; one of them is school-based management. “We appreciate teachers for their duty in building the nation through conflict management at schools, playing their role to educate students as candidates of national leaders,” he said.