Life skills project expands

[caption id="attachment_35420" align="alignright" width="405"] LIFE SKILLS PARTNERS: GMSA Foundation project manager Kathy Balshaw, front left, signs an agreement with Grahamstown district director Amos Fetsha for the roll out of the Peace Lessons Programme. Behind them are, from left, Ntomboxolo Ntanga, Carol Scheepers and Bongani Stamper[/caption] SCORES of Life Skills teachers in the Grahamstown district will soon get training on how to effectively teach the multi-faceted subject following the success of the programme at schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay region. The Peace Lessons Programme empowers Grade 4 to 6 teachers through training and lesson guides to be able to effectively teach valuable life skills such as self-awareness, problem-solving, interpersonal relations, leadership, decision-making and effective communication. The programme, which is a General Motors South Africa Foundation initiative, was first rolled out in 32 of Port Elizabeth schools and uses learning and teaching material aligned to national education policies. It was developed after it was found that some teachers simply did not know how to effectively teach the Life Skills subject. The foundation this month signed an agreement with Grahamstown district director, Amos Fetsha, to pilot the programme at 10 schools this year. The programme includes a set of simple, structured lesson guides to help teachers make Life Skills a valuable part of the curriculum for all-round pupil development, using stories and active learning to teach key concepts and skills. GMSA Foundation project manager Kathy Balshaw said the value of Life Skills as a school subject was being recognised more. "However, teachers often do not have sufficient training or the experience required to make their Life Skills lessons effective. "The result is poor curriculum coverage by teachers and a lost opportunity for the learners to acquire important skills for life," she said. The programme was selected by the Education Management Association of SA (EMASA) last year as one of 30 transformative projects making a significant impact on education in the country. - Zandile Mbabela