The Ministry of Education in partnership with the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has held a one- day roundtable mapping exercise with stakeholders and implementing partners on strengthening peace education in Liberia.

The exercise, held Monday in the conference room of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), brought together over eight participants from various NGOs to brainstorm and discuss on progress of Peace, Human Rights and Citizenship education (PEHED) among Liberians.

Speaking to this paper following the roundtable talks, the Officer-in-Charge of UNESCO, Dr. Ahmed Ferej said PEHED is designed to be taught in all schools across the country beginning with elementary through senior high.

He said the program has been incorporated into the curriculum and materials are being developed to ensure that it is ready by the beginning of the 2008/2009 academic year.

"The next aspect that is now required is training of teachers in order for them to adequately teach the subject to the students," Dr. Ferej indicated.

For his part, the National Coordinator of PEHED, Cllr. Viama J. Blama said the program has made numerous achievements since it started.

Cllr. Blama pointed out that three regional resource centers have been established with one at the MOE and named in honor of ailing Catholic Archbishop Michael Francis; the second is in Grand Gedeh County and named in honor of Dr. Ahmed Ferej, while the third is in Bong County in memory of Nehgesha Kebede, former UNHCR Country Representative.

The PEHCED National Coordinator said 500 copies of the human rights manuals were written and printed for teachers, while the Peace Education manuals of UNHCR printed 10,000 copies.

The Consultant of Peace Education at the UNHCR, Ms. Pamela Baxter said the practical approach to the process is to establish more branches of the awareness throughout the country.