Progress in the Conflict Resolution Education in the Schools and the Higher Education Institutes in Thailand.

There have been conflicts and violence that have caused injuries and serious cripple among the students especially in and among the vocational students. There are the increasing trends of the violence in the youth . According to the survey , the principle causes of the violence are 1) Educational System of the high competitiveness, the rote learning, the punish system 2) the violence in family 3) Media.

The government realized the increasing violence and has announced the Prime Minister’s Order of 187/1546 announced the policy in peaceful conflict management on September 1st ,2003 and another cabinet approval to set up the Institute of Dispute Resolution or alike in the University. These Institute should include the conflict resolution curriculum establishment. The implementation of the Policy has induced the ministry to follow in two ways:

1) Set up the Institute in each University that do serious work like those in Khon Kaen University, Prince of Songkla University, Culalongkorn University and Mahidol University . There are many ongoing activities that these institutes have done such as training, seminars, research and consultant including hand on works. Though conflicts continue to occur but people began to learn the process of dialogue, principled interest-based negotiation and meaningful public participation. These training and activities involved several ministries such as Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and many other Agencies of both public and private.

2) Research works to include both practicum such as intervention or operational research and analytical research to include the conflict in schools and ethnicity such as Southern Thailand conflict. The works in schools include the use of positive thinking, mediation, class room management, students participation using students committee.

With the direction of the Prime Minister’s order , several Universities have started the degree program on conflict resolution and management such as Kasetsart University, Chulalongkorn University and Mahidol University.

For the Institutes below the degree program such as Secondary School and Vocational School, the Ministry of Education through the support and control of the Office of the Educational Council, the program for the Conflict Resolution Education and Peace Education was launched during the 2007 fiscal year. The program was planned to run mediation program in 80 schools to cerebrate the 80th Anniversary His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birth day. The Ministry of Justice and King Prajadhipok’s Institute has been the core institutes to support and train the Administrators, the teachers and students. The initiation 0f the program was introduced by the academic support of Professor Tricia Jones from Temple University and the core member of IN CRE PE who went to run the conference and two consecutive work shops in Thailand in October, 2008

We hope to continue these Conflict Resolution Education and Peace Education Program to other schools in the years to come by the trainers whom we plan to have at least over 50 trainers by the training of the trainer program.