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Young student-teachers express their peace hopes in new book

Peace, a book of creative writing by student-teachers of Sri Lanka's National Colleges of Education, will be launched at a ceremony this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Navarangahala in Colombo.

This unique publication consists of more than 50 stories, poems, essays and songs in Sinhala, Tamil and English on issues related to peace, peace education and conflict transformation, all flowing from the experiences of young student-teachers.

The book is expected to be utilised as reading material for student-teachers, primary school pupils and teachers.

Peace is a joint effort by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs and the National Institute of Education, supported by the Basic Education Sector Programme. This programme is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented with Technical Assistance of the German Development Cooperation (GTZ).

The German Government has supported financially, through the GTZ, for the printing of this book to enable its distribution to all National Colleges of Education and related internship schools. GTZ (German Development Cooperation) is one of the largest service organisations for development cooperation in the world.

In keeping with the bilateral cooperation agenda between Sri Lanka and Germany, GTZ today provides assistance to the Sri Lankan government's economic and educational reform programmes as well as the on-going relief, reconciliation and rehabilitation framework.

According to the publishers, one intention of this literary publication is to raise awareness and understanding in young writers and readers of the issues related to peace education and conflict transformation. Addressing these issues is an important aspect of the ongoing educational reforms in Sri Lanka.

Young children can be positively oriented towards these issues through the inculcation of fair, just and respectful attitudes in the classroom and the playground. In exploring these issues, the power of the imagination allows children to begin to understand and to 'feel with' other children in different situations.

This is the beginning of tolerant and understanding attitudes and the foundation for social values. Developing children's trilingual literature on peace education and conflict transformation also contributes to inter-cultural education in and outside the school. Simultaneously, it increases the self-consciousness, self-competence and social competence of young writers and readers.

Well-known Sri Lankan artist Sybil Wettasinghe illustrates this book colourfully, reflecting the joy and satisfaction one would feel when reading the text. At Sunday's launch, Sybil Wettasinghe will express her thoughts on illustrating Peace.

The launch will also consist of a joint cultural programme by student-teachers of National Colleges of Education and pupils of St. Mary's College, Trincomalee and Girls' High School, Kandy in addition to a video presentation on intercultural activities related to the book by Young Asia Television.

Minister of School Education Suranimala Rajapakse will be the chief guest. Mrs. T. Vorwerk of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development, Dr. G. B. Gunawardena, Director General, National Institute of Education and Dr. Gerhard Huck of the GTZ, who is the Deputy Programme Manager of the Basic Education Sector Programme, will speak at the launching ceremony. The ceremony is open to the public.

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