Peace Education in Schools in Cyprus

stavrizatz

The ministry of Education of the Republic of Cyprus has send to principals of primary and secondary schools the letter seen in the following link (for those who can read Greek)

http://www.schools.ac.cy/dme/dmecircular/data/Doc3429.pdf

The letter reveals the aims of the school season 2008-2009 with sugestions to promote the goal which is to "Cultivate culture of peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and co-operation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots with aim to bring an end to the Turkish occupation and the reunification of Cyprus and its people"

Some reacted saying that the new program aims to promote the political agendas of Bizonal, Bicommunal Federation. If that is true then I suppose the whole program contradicts itself as one of the main points that peace culture stresses is the respect for the different opinion, therefore the program cannot promote the one path towards peaceful co-existence, rather the different options.

Generally I feel exited about this initiative of the new government but I would be disapointed if BBF is promoted, not because I personally do not favour such solution but more because it could trigger a new split in the Greek Cypriot public, just like the Anan Plan did.

moonskin · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:

stavri,

As you know, if there will be a solution to the CP, then it will be within the framework of a BBF. We at the least know this much. Now, if this is a fact and sides are serious about arriving to a solution this time around, then what would be more realistic than preparing the youth for what to come, especially if they have been living under the propaganda that things would be exactly as they were in 1960 once the solution has arrived?

Note the subtle difference that a BBF will be an *unavoidable* outcome (if there will be any) of these negotiations, in contrast to see this as an imposition of an opinion, as you seem to perceive it I guess. Because there seems to be only one alternative to choose from and no more. If you would ask me, I would see this as a preparation of the future generations to a coming reality.

About the split of the public. Well, is there any other way? The same happened within the Turkish Cypriot community. And we will see the same thing happening again, especially as the negotiations proceed and the referendums close in. Looking at the results of the last presidential election you had, I think the split will not be as rough this time. But I just can't imagine that, on the either side, there will be a uniform opinion on how things should be. Ever!

stavrizatz · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:21 am Post subject:

Moonskin,

I am not denying that BBF is the now the feasible settlement to the Cyprus question, however it does not mean that the education system can use propaganda to promote it. The role of education in my opinion is to give children an understanding of the situation so as to allow students to use their critical thinking in order to take on a point of view.

To teach BBF can be done but in a different subject that allrady exists, called 'politiki agogi' which means political education. This subject so far explains the 1960 constitution. If BBF it is to be taugh in the school, I believe it should be done after it is agreed. Because it is possible that many Greek Cypriots would prefer a permanent partition rather than a de facto partition aka BBF. This is also what Matsakis said in his presidential campaign "a truly unified Cyprus or a permanent partition" an opinion carried out by 30% of Greek Cypriots according to a research.

Don't you think it would be an irony for a subject that teaches cooperation to create a split?

ps. the annoying thing is that this education program came 45 years late.

city · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:

There was a really good article regarding this circular and the reactions to it in last Sundays Mail.
I must admit when reading it my doubts that a solution will be found have risen again. Unfortunately it's not enough that the politicians might agree.
Whatever is decided must be explained to the public, must be supported by the media and especially must be introduced in education! It will be difficult enough as it is know with some 30-40 years one sided propaganda and history teaching in the general publics mind to make any solution (that is not partition) working.

Here is the complete article and especially one quote that sort of 'says it all' regarding the current situation:

A struggle for the future of Cyprus
By Stefanos Evripidou
(archive article - Sunday, September 14, 2008)

stavrizatz · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

Thanks City for the article, but it is clear from which side is coming from.

By the way the author twisted the words of the archbishop, who is trying to accuse the church that it interferes with politics.

Well in Cyprus at least in the free areas there are two groups the one who suggest to write 'the history as it happens' but only they forget to go in depth about the period between 63-74 and the other group that suggest to smooth up history and write only about possitive rather than the negative. The later, is the phenomenon of neo-Cypriotism, where the strategy to unite the island is that of presenting a new national identity, the Cypriot one. It seems to me that the history war has a new twist, the pro-Cypriot, pro-Greek and pro-Turkish...none of them is pro-truth.

[city:quote]Whatever is decided must be explained to the public, must be supported by the media and especially must be introduced in education! It will be difficult enough as it is know with some 30-40 years one sided propaganda and history teaching in the general publics mind to make any solution (that is not partition) working. [/quote]

I don't think any democratic country ever done that.

A working solution is easy because Cypriots wan't find it difficult to live together, despite the huge differences in prespective...the solution in peoples minds is a very long term process. The problem of Cyprus is that of continuous occupation by a foreign country and that cannot be solved no matter what changes are made in the education system.

city · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

stavrizatz · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 8:22 am Post subject:

Sorry I didn't put it clearly.

The way I see a solution is at two or actually three levels, the surface level dealing with human rights, the political level dealing with the government structure and a solution in peaoples minds where the communities intergrate at all levels of society.

surface solution...addressing the real issues eg property, settlers, army.

political solution... where the politicians can agree on BBF, go back to 60s, agree on permanent partition or unite the whole of Cyprus with Greece or something else

But even if the above two are settled, no matter how fair/unfair a proposed 'solution' is, the attitude of the people could still be the same.

What I said it was easy, was about the surface level, where we have the univarsal declaration of human rights being violated. Turkey was found guilty in violation of human rights.

The political level could of been easy if democratic principles are applied.

While the other changes could happen tomorrow, the transformation of a whole society is long term process.

So, definately transforming people's minds towards a peace culture before a settlement is good but not essential. What really needs to happen and it is totally irrelevant imo whether the people are not ready phychologically for reunion, is that the surface issues should be solved and as I explained the surface issues are not hard to resolve.

city · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

ah, ok, now I get it.
Ok, but do you think your levels one and two will be working, with level 3 not being implemented?

For example: lets say, the property issue gets solved and people could return to their ancestral homes. If they are not ready to 'intergrate at all levels of society', as you put it, how shall a bi-communal life exist and work?

Or take your second level: political solution - maybe the politicians agree on something but most people are not ready to accept it cause it might be unfair from their point of view. (which it definitely will be for a number of people, regardless how a settlement will look). So what they do? Next election sees a different candidate/party win and certain agreed regulations might be overturned.

Ok, I know it's a simplistic view I use here, but nevertheless I think education and changing people's minds IS a very important piece of a settlement. Otherwise any given settlement will just not work, imho.

Probably a settlement could be imposed on the people (wouldn't be the first time) and over the years people come to terms with it...
Is that what you meant?

stavrizatz · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject:

city · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the late reply Stavri...

stavrizatz · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

city · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:

stavrizatz · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:48 am Post subject:

Makarios Drousiotis has nothing to do with Makarios the president/archbishop.

He is author/journalist with his own website
http://www.makarios.ws

stavrizatz · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:03 am Post subject:

The 1960 constitution was not the choice of Cypriots so I think the violence that follows came almost naturally. In the Greek Cypriot history books the events are not descriped much different, anyway.

city · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject: