THE ROLE OF schools and education in creating a lasting peace in Ireland should not be underestimated, according to the Joe O'Toole, general secretary of the "Peace education is not taught in Irish schools and education must be harnessed for peace," O'Toole says. "Tolerance, accommodation and acceptance of difference are essential to the achievement of renewed peace.

"Educational rather than political initiative can have the most influential input in this area," he says.

The INTO, which is an all-Ireland organisation, is holding its annual congress in Belfast in April. "Its members, north and south of the border, have a major contribution to make in this area of peace education," O'Toole suggests.

The union says that the pupils of Letterfrack national school, Co Galway, who have started a chain of peace letters", are reacting positively.

"The INTO wants to highlight the fact that children suffer greatly from this violence, but can also be part of the peace process. Therefore, we all echo the sentiments of the young pupils in Letterfrack national school and call for no more violence and a resumption of peace," O'Toole says.