 | Life Skills for Young Ugandans - Primary Teachers' Training Manual (UNICEF, 190 p.) |
 |  | Section Three: Overview of current Primary Teacher’s College Health Education Syllabus and Potential for Development of Life Skills Education |
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INTRODUCTION
In the light of Section 1, this chapter analyses the current Health Education Syllabus for Grade III Teachers’ college from different points of views.
Firstly, it identifies problem areas within each Unit which could the basis for discussion and life skills education.
Secondly, it addresses the Rights of Children in relation to the topics and life skills required for development of self, family and community.
Thirdly, the Sara communication Initiative (ESAR) and other initiatives and surveys are used to identify girl/Gender issues which are also a basis for discussion and life skills study.
Finally, potential life skills that can be highlighted in each topic through using interactive methods have been identified.
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UNIT |
PROBLEM AREAS ADDRESSED |
CHILDREN’S RIGHTS |
GIRL CHILD ISSUES |
LIFE SKILLS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED |
RATIONALE FOR LIFE SKILLS |
DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS |
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OUR HEALTH Concept of health Concept of Life Skills and health Childrens rights concerning health Promotion of good health Environment factors influencing health Growth and development in relation to health Role of individual, family and community Inadequate concept of health Environment and health Role of individual, family and community |
Beliefs and practices i.e. use of latrines |
To grow up in a peaceful, caring and secure environment and to have the basic necessities of life including food, health care, clothing and shelter (NCC for children - Uganda) State to ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child (Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Article, 6) |
Workload/exploitation Son preference Early marriage Child parent |
Interpersonal relationship effective communication |
To develop functional concept of health for self, family and community |
Role plays Dialogues Case studies Observation and recording |
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AIR, WATER AND SANITATION Poor sanitation Poor ventilation in living houses and kitchens |
Inadequate provision of clean and safe water |
(As above Article 6.) Right to grow up in a peaceful, caring and secure environment (NCC) |
Extra work load Son preference |
Problem solving Decision making Critical thinking |
Ensuring wholesome environment for self, family and community |
Flash cards with statements for discussion Practical activities Observation and recording |
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BODY SYSTEMS Masculo-Skeletal Digestive Respiratory Circulatory Nervous Reproductive Excretory Endocrine |
Coping with growing up Coping with disabilities Appropriate care for the body Cultural beliefs and practices |
Health protection through immunisation and proper health care (NCC) Disabled children to be treated with the same dignity as other children (NCC) To refuse to be subjected and to be protected from harmful initiation rites, social and customary practices (NCC) To be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse (CRC Article 19) |
Sexual abuse Violence and abuse Female genital mutilation Other initiation rites |
Self awareness Assertiveness Negotiations Empathy |
Ensuring: Proper growth and development Care and protection for the body Care for the disabled |
Case studies Discussion Role plays |
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FOOD AND NUTRITION Need for food Food availability, production, security and utilisation |
Inadequate knowledge on foods and nutrition Cultural beliefs and practices |
Basic necessities of life including food (NCC) |
Son preference Access to food Extra work load |
Assertiveness Problem solving Self awareness |
Develop health feeding habits for self, family and community |
Dialogue Debate Role plays Discussion Dietary surveys |
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SAFETY, ACCIDENTS AND FIRST AID |
Unsafe environment Managing and coping with accidents |
Right to grow up in a peaceful, caring and secure environment (NCC) Right to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work likely to be hazardous or interfere with child’s health (CRC, Article 32) Right to be protected form all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse (Article 19) |
Access to education Accidents related to gender roles |
Empathy Coping with stress Critical thinking Creative thinking Self Confidence |
To ensure safety for self, family and community |
Case study Story telling Role play Debates Letters Discussion |
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DISEASES Concept of disease Causes Communicable and non-communicable Prevention and control |
Lack of knowledge Socio-economic factors |
Right to protection through immunization and health care (NCC) |
Sexual abuse STI’s Lack of access to health care |
Empathy Problem solving Interpersonal relationship Peer resistance |
Promote healthy living for self, family, and community |
Case study Observation Debate Role play Story telling Discussion |
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HIV/AIDS Meaning Causes Modes of transmission Pre-disposing factors Signs and symptoms Prevention of AIDS Patients and Orphans |
Moving from knowledge to behavioural change Socio-economic context Beliefs and cultural practices Coping with people with HIV/AIDS and orphans |
Right to refuse and be protected from harmful initiation rites and other harmful social and customary practices (NCC) |
Counselling Sexual abuse Wife inheritance Lack of vocational skills/career options Limited expectations |
Peer resistance Problem solving Assertiveness Decision making Friendship formation Coping with emotions |
To discourage risky behaviour |
Role play Case studies Dialogue Flash cards Life line Dramatisation Letters Story telling Songs, poems |
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ORAL HEALTH Mouth structures and their functions Types of teeth Tooth decay and tooth and gum care Mouth problems and remedies Cultural beliefs and practices |
Lack of awareness Beliefs and practices |
Right to have basic necessities of life including health (NCC) Right to refuse to be subjected to harmful initiation rites and other harmful social and customary practices (NCC) |
Access to health care Initiation rites |
Self awareness Peer resistance Assertiveness |
To develop the concept of Oral Health for self, family, and community |
Story telling Debate Discussion Role play Dialogue Letters Case study Observation and recording |
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IMMUNISATION Immunisation and Immunisable diseases Promotion of immunisation |
Incomplete immunisation Beliefs and lack of awareness e.g. girls of child bearing age to go for tetanus injections |
Right to health protection through immunisation and appropriate health care (NCC, CRC) |
Lack of family life Education |
Self awareness Decision making Critical thinking Effective Communication |
To ensure health protection through immunisation for self, family and community |
Role play Field trip Songs and Rhymes Dialogue Survey Case Study Debates |
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MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH The mother and safe motherhood The child and child care Role of father |
Coping with parenthood Lack of family life Education and family planning |
Right to grow in a peaceful, caring and secure environment and also to have the basic necessities of life including food, health care, clothing and shelter. (NCC) Right to name and nationality (NCC) Right to have his/her basic interests given priority in any decision made concerning the child (NCC) Right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and facilities (CRC Article 24) Right to be protected from all forms of physical, mental violence (CRC Art. 19) Both parents have common responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child (CRC Art. 18) |
Access to health care Family life Education Early marriage and pregnancy Female genital mutilation Suicide |
Coping with emotion Coping with stress Interpersonal relationship Negotiation |
To develop skills for coping with demands of parenthood |
Case study Role play Dialogue Letters Survey field trip Observation Recording Story telling |
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ESSENTIAL DRUGS AND DRUG ABUSE The concept of essential drugs and disease patterns Drug use education |
Misuse of drugs e.g. Over/under dosage and drug dependence |
When ill, a child should have the right to receive proper medical care (NCC) Right to be protected from illicit use of drugs or to be used in illicit production and trafficking of drugs (CRC) Right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilitate for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health (CRC Art. 24) |
Access to health care Counselling Access to education |
Self awareness Coping with stress Decision making Effective Communication |
To ensure proper use of drugs and avoid use of narcotics or harmful drugs |
Debates Dialogues Role play survey Discussion Letters Story telling |
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FAMILY HEALTH AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS Family type and members Social Problems e.g. Juvenile delinquency, alcoholism, drug abuse Marriage relations |
Social economic Poor parenting Juvenile delinquency Violence Drug abuse Alcohol taking Incest Poor marriage relations |
Same rights irrespective of sex, religion, custom, rural or urban background, nationality, tribe, race, marital status of parents or opinion (NCC) Right to refuse and to be protected from harmful initiation rites and other harmful social customary practices (NCC) Right to leisure which is not harmful. To play and participate in sports and positive cultural and artistic activities (NCC) Both parents have common responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child (CRC, Art. 18) Protection by the State from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse (NCC, CRC Art. 19) Right to be protected from all forms of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation (CRC Art. 34) |
Push out from school Homeless Lack of counselling Child exploitation Sexual abuse and incest Early marriage Early pregnancy Suicide Son preference Limited expectations and opportunities |
Peer resistance Conflict resolution Friend-ship formation Coping with emotion Coping with stress Negotiation Interpersonal relations |
To ensure positive behaviour and relationships for the benefit of self, family and community |
Role play Dialogue Debates Dramatisation Devil’s Advocate Discussion Case study Letter |
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TRADITIONAL PRACTICES OF MEDICINE Myths about diseases Traditional medicine Traditional healers and birth attendants Witch craft |
Beliefs and Practices Efficacy and dosage |
Right to be protected from customary practices which are prejudicial to a child’s health (NCC) |
Female genital mutilation Abortion Suicide Human sacrifice |
Critical thinking Decision making Effective Communication Peer resistance |
To discourage harmful traditional practices of medicine |
Role play Dialogue Case studies Discussion Observation and recording |
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PRIMARY HEALTH CARE (PHC) Concept of PHC Elements of PHC Promotion and implementation of PHC |
Participation of individuals, family and community participation |
Right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health (CRC Art. 24) Rights of a child to have a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development (Art. 27) |
Extra work load Lack of family life education Sugar daddy/mummy complex |
Critical thinking Negotiation Problem solving Decision making Conflict resolution Coping with stress |
To ensure adequate participation of individuals, family and community in promotion of health. |
Case study Debates Role plays Letters Discussion Observation and recording |
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