Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Rao Mohar Singh College of Education
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION
AnIntroduction
Presented by-
Rajni Kotnala
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Today’s Youth Tomorrow's Wealth
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
What is ‘Life Skills’?
WHO (1997)
–“theabilitiesforadaptive and positive behavior
that enablesindividualsto deal effectivelywith the
demands and challenges of everyday life”
UNICEF (2001)
“life-skills based education is
-behavior change or behavior development
approach
-designed to address a balance of three areas:
knowledge, attitude, and skills.
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Why Life-Skills Education?
Early identification of problems, early
intervention and support at key moments in
lives of young people is vital
Development needs& aspirations of the
individuals
Development of psychosocial abilities
To enhance capabilitiesand enlarge
choices
To build different dimensions of well-being,
by building self-image & self-worth, which in
turn help individuals to be less vulnerableto
the variations within a given context
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Education To Fight Poverty And Vulnerability
“Vulnerability” is the probability of having
one’s situation worsen when facing a dramatic
event.
MONETARY POVERTY
POVERTY IN
LIVING
CONDITIONS
POVERTY IN
POTENTIALITY
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
World Education Forum, 2000
Dakar Framework For Action
“the human rightto benefit from an education that will
meet their(youth’s) basic learning needs in the best
and fullest sense of the term, an education that
includes learning to know, to do, to live togetherand
to be”
Life Skills Approach strengthens the ability of an
individual to evolve, developing self-confidence
and power to act, without being restricted to a
single hands on skill
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
What are the “Life Skills” ?
•Problem-Solving
•Decision Making
•Critical Thinking
•Creative Thinking
•Communication
Skills
•Self-Awareness
•Stress Management
•Empathy
•Interpersonal
Relationship
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
The Four Pillars of Education
Learning to Know: Developing Reasoning
It relates to cognitive life skills such as critical thinking,
problem solving and decision making skills. It thus refers
to both the acquisition of knowledge as well as the use
of knowledge.
Learning to Be: Enhancing Agency
It relates to self-management life skills related to self
awareness, self esteem & self confidence, and
coping skills
Learning to Live Together: Building Potential Through Social Capital
It relates to communication skills, Negotiation skills, Refusal skills,
Assertiveness skills, Interpersonal skills, Co-operation skills &
Empathy skills
Learning to Do: Functioning and Capabilities
It refers to central human functional capabilities of “Life”, “Bodily
Health”, “Bodily Integrity” and “Control over one’s Environment”
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Significance of learning Life Skills
•To be able to explore alternatives
•Weigh pros and cons
•Make rational decisions
•Communicate effectively
•To say “No”
•Be assertive
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
How ‘Life Skills’ lead to primary
prevention of health problems?
Knowledge
Attitudes
Values
Life Skills
Behavior reinforcement or change
Positive Health Behavior
Preventionof Health Problems
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILL
Allows to solve an issue, problem or conflict
without anger, intimidation, insubordination,
aggressive force or behavior
Devising a plan in order to solve a problem
Examining a related problem
Adjustment to a situation
PROBLEMS if left unresolved MENTAL &
PHYSICAL STRESS
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
What is Decision Making ?
•Abilities to assess available options
•Relating current situation to past similar situation
•To foresee the consequences of different
decisions (actions/non-actions)
•No decision is also a decision
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Responsible Decision Making
Making decision after
examining the choices &
consequences in view of
one’s values and
goalsis Responsible
Decision Making
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Steps for
Responsible Decision Making
•Identify/Define the problem
•Consider the consequences or outcomes
•Consider family and personal values
•Choose one alternative
•Implement the decision
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Critical Thinking
•Ability to analyze information and experiences in
an objective manner
•Helps adolescents to recognize and to assess
the factors influencing attitude & behavior -
values, pressures (peer,family)
•Key to form right attitudes towards life
•Assists in developing responsible behavior.
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Creative Thinking
•Enables to explore available alternatives and
consequences of actions or non-actions
•Openness to experience
•Helps adolescents to respond adaptively and
with flexibility to the daily life situations
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
SELF-AWARENESS
•Body movement and gestures
•Taking responsibility for own behavior
•Being able to stand up for one’s own
values and needs
•Awareness of mental process
•Knowing one’s thought, feelings and
actions
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Coping with emotions & stress
•Recognizing effects of emotions on others and
ourselves
•Being aware of how emotions influence
behaviors
•Able to respond to emotions appropriately
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
How to Cope with Stress
•Recognize sources of stress in our life
•Recognizing how these affect us
•Identifying ways that help to control our levels of stress
•Learning how to relax to minimize tensions
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Empathy
•Ability to understand and accept others
•To put oneself in other person’s shoes
•Being nurturing and tolerant
•Encourages a positive behavior towards
people in need or difficulty
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
InterpersonalSkills
•To be able to develop & nurture supportive
networks
•To be able to end relationships constructively
•Helps adolescents to relate
with people in positive ways
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Effective Communication
•To express ourselves verbally & non-verbally
•To express opinions, desires, needs & fears
also
•To ask for advice and help
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Take Pleasure & Pride in saying NO
when one wants to say “no”
•Ways to sayNO
–Polite refusal
–Give reason
–Repeat refusal
–Walk away
–Ignore the person
–Avoid the situation
–Find others’ support
–Talk about your own feelings
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Life Skills Education
•Dynamic teaching & Dynamic learning
•Working in small groups & pairs
•Brainstorming
•Role-plays
•Experiential learning
•Games & debates
•Home assignments, to further discuss and
practice skills with family & friends.
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Thus, the ‘Life skills’ ….
•are applied
–in various aspects of life
–in human relationships, learning about rights &
responsibilities
–in health issues:
•Mental Health-Stresses
•HIV-AIDS /STD Prevention
•Drug abuse,
•Sexual violence
•Teenage pregnancy
•Suicide Prevention
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE
Therefore, the Adolescents should know
about ‘Life skills’ because
•Empowers them to take positive actions to protect
themselves and to promote health and positive
social relationships.
•Utility in Other areas
–Environment Education
–Consumer Education
–Peace Education
–Social cultural Issues
Adolescent Friendly School Initiative
RAO MOHAR SINGH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
IVE