For those of us who may have not known, the 1990s was the decade of Education for All (EFA). And in order to assess the progress made, another global summit was held in April 2000 at Dakar (capital of Senegal in West Africa). It decided to renew its commitment to Education for All by 2015. Among several goals and strategies that have been outlined, one that we need to perhaps focus our attention on is life skills-based education. So now what exactly is Life Skills-Based Education (LSBE)? According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) LSBE refers “to an interactive process of teaching and learning which enables learners to acquire knowledge and to develop attitudes and skills which support the adoption of healthy behaviours”. It is also a critical element in UNICEF's definition of quality education. And as per information available in the public domain, LSBE is being adopted around the world, as a means to empower young people in challenging situations. The UNICEF goes on to say that “the challenges children and young people regularly face are many, and require more than even the best numeracy and literacy skills” and that is why “the 164 nations committed to Education For All have included life skills as a basic learning need for all young people”.
So what we can gather is that Life skills-based education aims to develop young people’s skills in self-awareness, problem-solving, interpersonal relations, leadership, decision-making, effective communication and coping with difficult situations. And isn’t this what we lack in our present system of education, which remain blind to the socio-economic and political crisis we are faced with in this difficult complex world. And it is not for nothing that life skills learning also figures prominently in achieving the goals of quality education. Our schools, colleges and university should start giving attention to incorporating life skills into our education curriculum. Education and learning should be able to address the need to promote HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support; health and nutrition; respect for human rights; prevention of violence and peace building; sustainable development etc. These are the burning issues of our times. And if education is to remain relevant, then it must be able to reinvent itself to the needs of our society. Promoting life skills based education is the way forward. For this, the teachers, who will have to convey such learning, they will have to be trained and properly equipped themselves. Schools, colleges or perhaps the concern Department in Nagaland should conduct seminars on life skills education so that necessary capacity building and awareness is created among educators.
We should not only have successful students with degrees but also bring about value addition to our learning so that young people are prepared to respond to the different aspects of life. If we can add here, not just life skills but value based education should also be added so that young minds are taught about things like integrity and respect for life and law. At a time when we are faced with a moral abyss every section of our society needs to inculcate this quality of integrity and try to be a good citizen. We will become a better people. Our government system, society, politics, education, development, everything will improve. Education and learning should not only be about successful students but must also produce able and good citizens in all of us. If education can do this we will have more assets then liability in our society.
