Re-Thinking the Role of Indigenous Systems in Life Skills Education Among the Youth of Local Communities

Schools experienced various challenges, and such challenges put the South African youth at risk of self-destructive behavior. The behavior that puts young people at risk, such as substance abuse and lack of educational life skills to mention a few, add to their vulnerability. The knowledge which has been historically repressed and marginalized needs to be given a rightful place in the development and promotion of indigenous knowledge in life skills education of South Africa. Data were collected and qualitatively framed within an interpretivist philosophical view using observation and focus group interviews from purposefully selected key informants who are experts in the area of indigenous knowledge and life skills education.

The effect of a life skills education program on mental health and social competencies among young prisoners in Cambodia: an intervention study

Background: Young prisoners are more susceptible to mental health problems as compared to adult prisoners and the general population. The lack of life skills has been reported as one of the main reasons for this vulnerability.Method: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the life skills education program on mental health and life skills among young prisoners in Cambodia. A pre-post intervention study was conducted with 412 young prisoners aged 15–24 years who were randomised into intervention and control groups. The Youth Self-Report and Life Skills Development – Adolescent Form scales were applied to assess impact of the intervention program.Result: Both intervention and control groups reported decreased mental health problems (DiD=3.78, p=0.34) and improved life skills competencies (DiD=0.39, p=0.80) after the intervention; however, the differences were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Further studies should be conducted to evaluate long-term effects of the like skills education program in the prison setting.

Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of how life skills are conceptualized and taken up in curriculum, teaching, and measurement in different educational settings around the world, as discussed in the chapters in this book. We focus on life skills programming in low- and middle-income countries because bilateral and multilateral aid organizations have significantly shaped discourse and programming in life skills education. We intentionally included studies utilizing a variety of research methodologies, which allow for a deep understanding of both the micro level (curriculum, pedagogy, and youth engagement and outcomes) and macro level (organizational processes and assumptions) in life skills programming and policy. Chapters in the book highlight a disconnect between the dominant individualistic behavioral approach used by many organizations and programs and the life skills that youth and local communities emphasize as important to change social and economic problems. To respond to this disconnect, this chapter provides an overview of a capabilities approach to life skills, with the purpose of focusing on wellbeing. We suggest that life skills education should develop the capabilities that societies and individuals have reason to value.

Reframing Life Skills: From an Individualistic to a Relational Transformative Approach

This chapter examines how life skills education draws on a dominant individualistic behavioral approach that aims to teach skills to young people so they can overcome various social and economic problems. Life skills are taught to girls so that they can be empowered to overcome health issues, such as HIV/AIDs or early pregnancy. They are also targeted at boys who are deemed ‘at risk’ of engaging in asocial behaviors in efforts to reduce violence and to contribute to the economy. Yet many of these societal problems are linked to changing social, economic and environmental relations. To think differently about how to use life skills to foster a good life that is just, equitable, and sustainable, the chapter offers a transformative framing based in a critical and relational approach. Such an approach requires a reframing of skills to consider the values and perspectives that are often implicitly taught, such as individual responsibility and self-promotion, and to reorient these skills around values that youth desire and need within their challenging contexts. It concludes with a discussion of some common life skills and how they can be reframed to achieve transformation in society so youth can live life well – oriented toward greater justice, equality and peace.

Life Skills Education for Urban Youth in Honduras and Guatemala: A Capability Analysis of the Sports-Based Job Training Program A Ganar

Drawing upon an extensive case study of a sports-based, life skills job training program for at-risk youth in Honduras and Guatemala, this chapter examines how program participants described the process of building skills, and how, if at all, this skill-building led to greater well-being. Second, it asks, to what extent are these experiences of program participants aligned with theories of education within the capability approach? These questions are addressed through a qualitative case study that was embedded within an experimental design (a randomized control trial) that took place over 5 years in urban areas of Honduras and Guatemala. The analysis suggests that the combination of exposure to new ideas and information in the three phases of the A Ganar program, coupled with concrete opportunities to test out such ideas, enabled youth to experience changes in their attitudes and behaviors around work, around themselves, and to develop new relationships and friendships. Based on these empirical results, the chapter identifies several elements that might better inform life skills education research and practice in s in the future. These include: (1) conceptualizing life skills as preconditions of capabilities (some of which might be better classified as values); (2) conceptualizing life skills as both ends and means of interventions, and (3) giving more consideration to the conversion factors, meaning the ability to convert resources into functionings, that limit the robustness of capabilities that life skills programs develop.

Life Skills Education for Youth in Developing Countries: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?

Drawing from a review of theoretical, methodological, and empirical literature on life skills from the fields of education, public health, psychology, economics, and international development, this paper attempts to clarify basic definitional and conceptual issues that relate to life skills education. It addresses the questions: (1) What are life skills, and how has the term emerged in academic and donor agency literature? And (2) What bodies of practice and research evidence converge in the rise of ‘life skills’ programming and increased interest in ‘life skills’ among thought leaders and donors in the field of international education? The paper identifies implications from this analysis to be considered in research and interventions that focus on life skills for adolescents, particularly in light of global efforts to improve the quality of education.

Action Research Addressing the Implementation of Life Skills Education on Adolescent Reproductive Sexual Health (Teenage Pregnancy, Sexual Activities, STIs, HIV/AIDs) for the Positive Behavioural Outcome

Sexual health is a serious public health concern with long-term implications on health and fertility. Improving the sexual health of our teenagers and preventing teenage pregnancy is a national priority that the current government of Bhutan with the help of concern stakeholders aim to reduce teenage conception rate and sexually transmitted infections by 2022 to the minimum. If we are to achieve this ambitious target, parents, teachers and paediatricians need to consider the sexual health needs of our teenage population and recognize times where we are able to offer advice, screening or signposting. As increasing number of Bhutanese youths are becoming victim of teenage pregnancy and STIs. The study was aimed to make awareness to our youth to improve their understanding on adolescent reproductive sexual health (teenage pregnancy, sexual activities STIs, HIV/AIDs) for positive behavioural outcome. Therefore, imparting applicable life skills education to our young minds has become indispensable to curb the aforementioned issues. The study was carried out in Ura Central School, Bhutan. The participants of the study consisted of 61 studying in class VIII and X and 25 teachers. The study adopted mixed method; quantitative approach included survey whereas for qualitative approach included semi-structured interview. Survey data were collected from 61 students and 25 teachers whereas interview data were collected from 10 students and 5 teachers. The study found the intervention (awareness programme via teaching, roleplay, discussion) effective with students in the post-data showing better understanding of the students regarding teenage pregnancy, sexual activities and STIs.

School Based Action Research on Implemetation of Life Skill Education for Positive Behaviour Outcome

The research study titled “School Based Action Research on the implementation of Life Skills Education in schools”, broadly aimed to observe positive behavioral change in teachers and students through the implementation of Life Skills Education in schools. This is to be achieved by converging on a sub theme: “Can Life Skills Education address and deal with disciplinary issues in Tshangkha Central School”. The research is carried out at Tshangkha Central School, Trongsa with classes IX – XII students. This paper assesses whether life skills education can curb out the disciplinary problems in the school. It begins with a review of the literature on indiscipline; its types; causes; life skill education, and utilizes that literature to identify how ten core life skills could be applied to address and deal with disciplinary issues. Research methodology implored are questionnaire, applicability and transferability test, interview and school disciplinary records register. It is primarily a mixed method. After the analysis of the data there has been evidence of Life Skills Education (LSE) being successful in addressing and dealing with disciplinary issues in Tshangkha Central School (TCS).

Exploring Perceptions of Elementary School Teachers on the Importance of School-Based Life Skills Education. A Case Study

There is an unusual increase in the cases of child abuse, early marriages, suicide, physical and mental violence causing a large number of school dropouts in elementary classes. This calls for the requirement to investigate or evaluate the perceptions of teachers about life skills education in public sector elementary schools. The study was conducted using qualitative interviews from twelve teachers of two public schools where life skill education is being taught. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that teachers are aware and have a positive attitude towards life skills education. This study will contribute to raising awareness.T