Rome: Hala Ramzy Fayez, member of the Shura Council, participated as a keynote speaker in a panel discussion on integrating values of coexistence and peace into education. The session was held as part of the Second Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue in Rome, attended by a Bahraini parliamentary delegation led by Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Fayez stressed that education is the most fundamental and influential starting point for promoting peace, noting that schools, curricula, and teachers are central to embedding a culture of peace. She emphasised that fostering tolerant societies must begin from early education, and highlighted Bahrain's efforts to incorporate principles of coexistence and tolerance into its education system.
Fayez noted that Bahrain's approach to integrating values of coexistence and peace into education is a structured and institutionalised effort, guided by the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. His Majesty considers education that promotes coexistence a national and strategic necessity, as it plays a vital role in strengthening social stability, supporting human development, and safeguarding community security.
Fayez also noted the significant impact of the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance (KHGC) in promoting peace-related values and principles beyond the national level, extending to regional and international platforms. The Centre, she said, serves as a knowledge-based hub that generates educational initiatives focused on peacebuilding and countering extremist narratives.
She expressed appreciation for the Inter-Parliamentary Union's efforts in organising the annual conference, and proposed the inclusion of a permanent agenda item dedicated to reviewing and advancing education policies that support coexistence and peace. She suggested this be carried out in cooperation with member parliaments and education-focused organisations at the regional and international levels, in order to strengthen the role of education as a platform for mutual understanding and a source of hope amid global instability.