THE INDEPENDENT Jamaica Council for Human Rights (IJCHR) has taken the commendable initiative to launch two human rights education manuals for use in primary schools, come January next year. Significantly, the project has the blessings and support of the Ministry of Education.
Citizens, in general, know very little about the formal provisions for fundamental rights and freedoms and indeed about the Constitution under which we are governed. Many concerns have been raised over the years about infringements upon human rights by the state and other parties and a robust set of non-governmental civic organisations. In the wake of these concerns, the IJCHR and the more recent Jamaicans for Justice, have emerged in defence of human rights.
This latest initiative by the IJCHR in producing resource manuals for introducing human rights education over the primary years is designed to promote the development of national consciousness and the recognition of human rights and civil liberties. Students using the manuals are expected to develop both a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities and greater tolerance for the rights of others.
In endorsing the manuals, State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Senator Noel Monteith, has suggested that much of the conflict and much of the human rights violation which take place in our society could be alleviated if people are helped from an early age to understand their fundamental rights as human beings. In effect, his suggestion is that children live what they learn. We believe he is correct and the IJCHR manuals should prove useful tools in achieving that aim.
It is now even more imperative to introduce all children passing through the school system, and from their earliest years, to the vital concepts of rights, freedoms and responsibilities and of constitutional democratic governance.
For years The Gleaner has supported, with other partners, the Peace and Love in Schools/Society programme aimed at teaching strategies of conflict resolution. We see human rights education as a significant complement to this effort.
The contribution of the non-governmental IJCHR, with the full backing of the Education Ministry, deserves commendation and support.
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