Madam Francisca Anaba, a Circuit Supervisor of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has recommended the introduction of dispute resolution education in the secondary school curriculum.
That, she believes would help to inculcate the culture of Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the younger generation.
According to her, it was necessary to train students to promote peer mediation among the youth to ensure peaceful co-existence in society.
In an interview with ADR Daily in Accra, Madam Anaba is convinced that a strong peer mediation culture would help to prevent or resolve most of the conflicts in schools and among the youth in general.
“Peer mediation is the resolution of disputes amongst students or youths without the intervention of a third party.
“With peer mediation, both parties attempt to resolve their issue amongst themselves using the skills and techniques of mediation,” she added.
Peer mediation, she said, offer immense benefits to societies, and therefore GES needs to consider promoting ADR education.
Such education can positively influence the attitude of young people both in school and at home.
Because counseling coordinators, especially in schools, only operate when a dispute arises, peer mediation training would enable students to resolve their differences without allowing their disputes to escalate.
“The students would be taught using the GHOST principles and the PULSE frame to aid them in maintaining friendships and ensuring that they relate peacefully with each other,” she added.
By: Fred Gadese-Mensah/adrdaily.com
