Academic Framework for 21st-Century Schooling: Promoting Global Peace and Harmony

Book excerpt: In an era, fraught with existential threats, Academic Framework for 21st-Century Schooling: Promoting Global Peace and Harmony answers the urgent call for a new path forward. The UN Secretary-General's recent address, echoing decades of warnings from UNESCO, has underscored the dire state of our world. Global warming, pollution, terrorism, unchecked population growth, discrimination, refugee migration, consumerism, and the ominous specter of weapons of mass destruction loom large in an age marked by nationalism and imperialism. The very fabric of human existence is unraveling, and even the UN's well-intentioned MDG and SDG initiatives are in jeopardy. This book, authored by esteemed scholars, proposes a transformation of global education as the antidote to this crisis. It champions the cultivation of a fresh generation with essential attributes like critical thinking, empathy, respect for diversity, and a profound sense of global responsibility. Schools are envisioned as the crucible for shaping these future citizens. At its core, this book offers a well-founded academic framework for global peace and harmony education, addressing the intricacies of 21st-century schooling, curriculum transformation, global best practices, and the vision of 'happy schooling.' It is a clarion call to scholars and educators to lead the way toward a world where peace and harmony are not just ideals, but the very foundation upon which humanity thrives. Our world and future generations depend on this transformative journey, one we must embark upon without delay.