Puneet Varma (Editor)

Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education

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Focus
  
Areas of conflict

Founded
  
1998

Founder
  
Yohanan Manor

Area served
  
School Textbook Analysis

Method
  
Developed by IMPACT-SE using international criteria for curriculum analysis

Key people
  
Yohanan Manor Shelley Sandor Elkayam

Slogan
  
"Peace does not lie in covenants and charters alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of the people." -John F. Kennedy

Website
  
http://www.impact-se.org/

Motto
  
"Peace does not lie in covenants and charters alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of the people." -John F. Kennedy

Similar
  
Palestinian Media Watch, Israel Project, Middle East Forum, Middle East Media Research

Profiles

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The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-SE), formerly known as the Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace (CMIP), is a non-profit organization that monitors the content of school textbooks. It examines school curricula worldwide, especially throughout the Middle East, to determine whether the material conforms to international standards and is teaching recognition and acceptance of the 'Other'. The organization believes that education should be utilized to encourage tolerance, pluralism and democracy, and promote peaceful means of solving conflicts.

Contents

In October 2011, IMPACT-SE opposed the recognition of Palestine at UNESCO, arguing that the Palestinian Authority does not meet the organization's recommendations for becoming a full member.

Scope and impact

The organization analyzes Israeli, Palestinian, Saudi Arabian, Syrian, Egyptian, Tunisian, and Iranian textbooks. The organization has published reports relating to the understanding of terror, the role of religion in schools, as well as on the "indoctrination" of children in Iran.

Methodology

The organization analyzes textbooks according to the following criteria:

  1. "Is the data given accurate and complete?"
  2. "Are illustrations, maps, and graphs up-to-date and accurate?"
  3. "Are the achievements of others recognized?"
  4. "Are equal standards applied?"
  5. "Are political disputes presented objectively and honestly?"
  6. "Is wording likely to create prejudice, misapprehension, and conflict?"
  7. "Are the ideals of freedom, dignity, and fraternity being promoted?"
  8. "Are the following needs being emphasized: international cooperation, elaboration of common human ideals, advancement of the cause of peace, and enforcement of the law?"
  9. "How are other peoples, religions, and communities perceived? Are they recognized, accepted as equal, and respected? Or are they presented in a stereotyped and prejudiced way?"
  10. "Does education foster peace? Does it support a peace process? Is there room for improvement?"

According to the organization's website, criteria one through eight were recommended by UNESCO experts.

Publications

Publications by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education include:

  • Egyptian textbooks: Jews, Christians, War and Peace in Egyptian School Textbooks (published March 2004)
  • Iranian textbooks: The Attitude to the "Other" and to Peace in Iranian School Textbooks and Teachers' Guides (published October 2006)
  • Israeli textbooks: Arabs, Palestinians, Islam and Peace in Israeli School Textbooks (published 2000–2001, updated 2001–2002 from Arabs and Palestinians in Israeli Textbooks)
  • Palestinian textbooks: Palestinian Textbooks: From Arafat to Abbas and Hamas (published March 2008)
  • Palestinian textbooks: Jews, Israel and Peace in the Palestinian Authority Textbooks: The New Textbooks for Grades 5 and 10 (published June 2005)
  • Palestinian textbooks: Jews, Israel and Peace in the Palestinian Authority Textbooks: The New Textbooks for Grades 4 and 9 (published August 2004)
  • Palestinian textbooks: Jews, Israel and Peace in the Palestinian Authority Textbooks:The New Textbooks for Grades 3 and 8 (published May 2003)
  • Palestinian textbooks: Jews, Israel and Peace in the Palestinian Authority Textbooks and High School Final Examinations (published October 2002)
  • Palestinian textbooks: Jews, Israel and Peace in Palestinian School Textbooks (published November 2001)
  • Saudi Arabian textbooks: The West, Christians and Jews in Saudi Arabian Schoolbooks (published January 2003)
  • Syrian textbooks Peace and the "Other" in Syrian School Textbooks (published June 2001)

    • References

    Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA