Transforming Education with Love and Conscience
“The core value of education lies in inspiring people’s conscience and self-awareness.”
~ Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL
The International Day of Education is observed on January 24th, and the theme for this year's celebration is "Changing Course, Transforming Education." On January 24, the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) held its first virtual event in 2022, inviting educators and visionary leaders from all fields to share their perspectives on educational transformations, inspiring world citizens to work together for the realization of everyone's fundamental right to education and a safer, more inclusive, and peaceful future for all.
At the start of the new year, FOWPAL received many New Year greetings and congratulatory messages from heads of state, ministers of education, UN ambassadors of various nations and other visionary leaders. To wish everyone a happy and safe 2022, FOWPAL presented a beautiful New Year e-card created by Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, delivered welcome remarks, emphasizing, “The core value of education lies in inspiring people’s conscience and self-awareness, thereby shaping individuals and the landscape of future society. The most important education for everyone from birth to death is conscience education.” He also stated, “Conscience is a constant reminder for people to restore their true hearts, do the right thing, and make wise decisions. Everyone is an important educator of conscience. Everyone should respect, tolerate, understand, forgive, appreciate, learn from, and care for one another. Each kind thought and each good deed can have a critical influence on global citizens’ well-being.”
Mr. Clifton Grima, Minister for Education and Sport of Malta, stated that Malta places a great emphasis on inclusive, accessible, and high quality education. "In an increasing globalized world, education remains central to ensure that young people of today will become successful leaders of tomorrow," noted Miniter Grima, adding, "Our young people need to be guided to become ethical and responsible citizens."
“Covid-19 has reminded and taught us, although bitterly, that solutions should now be created by common mindset, common will and cooperation. Conscience is one of the first subjects that the pandemic taught and remind us. If people lived with conscience, would there be natural disasters, climate disasters, lack of love, wars?. . . Would children go to work instead of going to school?” said Dr. Akkan Suver, president of the Marmara Group Foundation in Turkey, adding, “Therefore, the virtue of the importance that the FOWPAL family attaches to conscience is self- evident."
Prof. Rene Wadlow, president of the Association of World Citizen, an NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC and associated with the UN DPI, stated, “The Association of World Citizens stresses that each person must develop a sense of responsibility toward the Planet and toward others based on the individual’s conscience and moral sense. A sense of responsibility, an ethical concern for social justice, and the dignity of humanity is central to the values of a world citizen.”
Mrs. Savita Makhija, the headmistress of Station Road Campus of the world’s largest school–City Montessori School in Lucknow, India, stated, “It is our duty to assist the younger generations, who are the innovators, to realize their aspirations, tread the right path and make positive contributions. What we are teaching our children today will shape the world tomorrow.” She concurred with Dr. Hong on the role conscience plays in transforming our world, “Only through a conscience-guided education, can we find the solutions to the world’s pressing problems. Only when we follow our conscience and use our wisdom, can we solve endless social problems at the root causes.”
Dr. Randy A. Tudy, president of the Community of ASEAN Researchers and Educators (CARE), said, “As we continue dealing with the pandemic and the transition towards post-pandemic era, the Changing Course, Transforming Education could be in the form of increasing internationalization of Higher Education and embracing the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
Hafizul Ahmad, chairman of World Philosophical Forum, Malaysian National Branch, emphasized the importance of global solidarity in changing education for the better: “We can move a mountain if we work together!” Global citizens must work together to bring about transformations, and they should do their share no matter where or who they are, he stressed.
Since the First International Day of Conscience on April 5, 2020, FOWPAL has hosted 47 virtual events to promote the concept of conscience. FOWPAL sincerely appreciates educators’ hard work and will continue promoting “An Era of Conscience Movement” and the “International Day of Conscience” to spread conscience-based social education through the Internet as only conscience-driven education can usher in a bright future for humanity. During the event, the event host Judy Lee encouraged educators and world citizens to utilize the ample conscience education resources FOWPAL has made available through the Internet.
Judy Lee concluded the event by inviting everyone to attend FOWPAL's celebration of “Inspire Your Heart With Art Day” on January 31, as well as sending their best wishes to all families impacted by the volcanic eruption in Tonga on January 15 and the resulting tsunami. The event came to a close with a song called "Wish," which expressed FOWPAL's wish for the restoration of balance and harmony in everyone and in the world.