CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to The Study
According to Tylor (1871), culture is
that complex whole which includes knowledge,belief, art, morals, law,
custom, and any othercapabilities and habits acquired by man as amember
of society.As a defining aspect of what it means to behuman, culture is a
central concept inanthropology, encompassing the range ofphenomena that
are transmitted through sociallearning in human societies. The word is
used in ageneral sense as the evolved ability to categorizeand represent
experiences with symbols and to actimaginatively and creatively. Some
aspects of human behavior,such as language, social practices such
askinship, gender and marriage, expressive formssuch as music, dance,
ritual, religion, andtechnologies such as cooking, shelter, and clothing
aresaid to be cultural universals, found in all humansocieties.
The concept material culture covers
thephysical expressions of culture, such astechnology, architecture and
art, whereas theimmaterial aspects of culture such as principles
ofsocial organization (including, practices of politicalorganization and
social institutions), mythology,philosophy, literature (both written
and oral), andscience make up the intangible cultural heritage ofa
society.
Culture of peace is subsumed under Peace
Education. Culture of peace arose at the end of the Cold War. For the
first time, the objective for which the United Nations was founded, the
abolition of war had become feasible. The United Nations Organization
for Education, Science and Culture, UNESCO, had engaged in activities to
promote a culture of peace from its beginnings, when it was founded in
the Second World War to construct the defences of peace in the minds of
men and women.
Culture of peace is a natural phenomenon
necessary for all, and very important among undergraduates in the
university. A university is an educational institution designed for
interaction, examination, or both of the students in many branches of
advanced learning, conferring degrees in various faculties, and often
embodying colleges and similar institutions.
Peace and conflict today was formulated
by the International Congress of Peace in the Minds of Men that was
held in Africa (Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, 1989).in its final
declaration, the Congress recommended UNESCO to “help construct a new
vision of peace by developing a peace culture based on the universal
values of respect for life, liberty, justice, solidarity, tolerance,
human rights and equality between men and women. The term “ peace
culture” was inspired by the 1986 educational initiative Culturadepaz
in Peru and by the Seville statement on violence, elaborated in 1986 by
scientists from around the world which stated scientifically and
categorically that war is not determined by gene, violent brains, human
nature or instincts, but was rather a social invention. Therefore, “the
same species that invented war is capable of inventing peace.” Thus, the
culture of peace is an integral approach to preventing violence and
violent conflicts, and an alternative to the culture of war and violence
based on education for peace, the promotion of sustainable economic and
social development, respect for human rights, equality between women
and men, democratic participation, tolerance, the free flow of
information and disarmament.
Examining school values, School values
are standards. They are roadmaps. They are directions. However, we need
to understand the concept of value. According to Wikipedia (2014),
values can be defined as “…broad preference concerning appropriate courses of action or outcome” values can be seen in two lights. Some values are physiologically directed and are usually considered to be objective.
This is because they vary across
individuals and Cultures and in many ways are linked with belief and
belief systems. Thus, some values are considered general, while others
can be culture or belief-determined.
As a matter of fact, school values have
their root in values. Therefore, school values may be said to be
standards set by a school system which governs and controls the system’s
operational plans and activities such that these activities are
directed towards the mission and vision of the school. As said about
values, school values may be culture, belief or intention-based.
Therefore, what may be considered as value in one setting may be termed
otherwise in another setting and vice-versa.
Thus, how school values can be a
determinant of the culture of peace in the University of Ibadan among
undergraduates in relation to the mission statements to: “be a world-class institution for academic excellence geared towards meeting societal needs, produce
graduates who are worthy in character and sound judgment, contribute to
the transformation of society through creativity and innovation,”will
be further explored.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The study centers on the school values
among university undergraduates of the University of Ibadan to promote
the culture of peace. The culture of peace, if devoid among
undergraduates can lead to unacceptable behaviour that can impede the
mission and vision of the university. Thus, the school values such as:
respect for rules and regulation; civil virtue; sportsmanship; and team
spirit/ team building among university undergraduates are what this
study wants to know if they really guide the conduct of undergraduates
to imbibe the culture of peace. Hence, the need for the need for this
study seeks to find out how school values have affected the culture of
peace among undergraduates in the University of Ibadan.
The university uses many devices to
bring about peace in its milieu. One of the ways implored to make peace
reign in the school is through the values of the school as said.
Nevertheless, with much effort in promoting the culture of peace among
undergraduates, there are still cases of conflicts, gambling,
prostitution, pornography, vandalism, larceny, examination malpractices,
assault and other social vices.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to identify
the functions and influences of the school values among undergraduates
in the University of Ibadan that are beneficial to the growth of peace
and resolving conflicts. This work is relevant to study what peace and
settling conflicts are all about and how school values contribute
therein. These school values play significant roles in advancing peace
within and beyond the institution. The work focuses on school values and
its significances in peace building; and engages in a case study of
students’ response to conflicts and how they demonstrate or exhibit the
culture of peace.
1.4Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of the study is to
determine the extent to which school values influence the culture of
peace among undergraduates in the University of Ibadan.
Specific objectives of the study are to:
1 examine the undergraduates general disposition to the culture of peace
2 determine the
extent to which school values influence the culture of peace among the
undergraduates in the University of Ibadan.
3 to investigate the students’ attitudes towards the inclusion of peace education as a general course in the university.
1.5 Research Questions
In order to achieve the stated objectives, the following research questions are raised:
1 what is the general
disposition of university undergraduates to the Culture of Peace in the
University of Ibadan?
2 to what extent do
the school values influence the Culture of Peace among university
undergraduates in the University of Ibadan?
3 what are the
students’ attitudes towards the inclusion of peace education as a
general course in the university?
1.6 Significance of the Study
The study tends to look into the values
(civic virtue, team spirit/building, respect for rules and regulations,
and sportsmanship) that are considered in the University of Ibadan which
contribute to or foster the culture of peace among the university
undergraduates. Also, itlooks into the cultural beliefs of different
students and how the school values have shaped their individual values
to fit into the school’s system.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The research work is limited to the
University of Ibadan, Oyo State. It will cover only the undergraduates
in the selected school. This implies that to get significant evidences
about students’ opinion on peace as a concept, there is need for a field
work in such a tertiary institution.
1.8 Delimitation
This study focuses on the school values
as a determinant of the culture of peace among university undergraduates
in the University of Ibadan. The research is to be carried out among
the students, both male and female within the University of Ibadan.
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms
Culture
Culture is the set of attitudes, values,
beliefs, and behaviours shared by a group of people, but different for
each individual communicated from one generation to the next. It is a
fuzzy set of basic assumptions and values, orientations to life,
beliefs, policies, procedures, and behavioural conventions that are
shared by a group of people, and that influence (but do not determine)
each member’s behavior and his/her interpretations of the ‘meaning’ of
other people’s behavior.
Peace
Peace is a term commonly used to
describe a state of being calm and quiet, a state of tranquility, free
from argument, conflict, violence and disturbances. It is an avenue
permeated with attitudes that allow people of all ages and all levels to
co-habit in harmony.
Undergraduate
A university or college student who is
studying for his or her first degree: a student at the university who
has not yet received a bachelor’s-level degree. Students studying for
their first degree are undergraduates in the University of Ibadan. In
view of this study, an undergraduate is a student who is studying for
his or her first degree (usually entitled Bachelor of Arts [BA] or
Bachelor of Science [BSc]).
Culture of Peace
According to the 1998 UN resolution,
the Culture of Peace is an integral approach to preventing violence and
violent conflicts, and an alternative to the culture of war and violence
based on education for peace, the promotion of sustainable economic and
social development, respect for human rights, equality between women
and men, democratic participation, tolerance, the free flow of
information and disarmament.
Values
Values can be defined as "broad preference concerning appropriate courses of action or outcome.”
School
A school is an institution designed for
the teaching of students, under the directions of facilitators. In
relation to this study, school means university and that is the
University of Ibadan.
School Values
School values may be said to be
standards set by a school system which governs and controls the system’s
operational plans and activities such that these activities are
directed towards the mission and vision of the school. For the purpose
of the study, examples of school values are: (a) respect for rules and
regulation (b) civil virtues (c) sportsmanship (d) team spirit/team
building.