Kohima, August 30 (MExN): A two-day online training of teachers on Adolescence Education Programme (AEP) was jointly organized by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) and Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) from August 25 to 26 last at NBSE conference hall, Kohima.
The programme was conducted with an aim to enhance the understanding and skills of teachers to effectively address the adolescents at schools and empower them to make healthy choices.
The training was conducted for the teachers of high schools and higher secondary schools from all the districts of Nagaland registered under NBSE.
A total of 847 participants registered for the training, while a total of 548 participated on the first day and 411 on the second day.
The two-day sessions comprised of different topics such as aims & objectives, HIV/AIDS and STI, Growing up and Adolescence Reproductive Sexual Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Life Skills for HIV prevention and Implementation of 16 hour Curriculum of AEP.
‘Life skills for HIV prevention’
A session on “Life Skills for HIV Prevention” was led by Chongkoi Khaming, AD/MM, IEC, NSACS.
She talked about the importance of life skill approach and goals for adolescents, and understanding the ten core life skills and the use of box technique that would help the students to address their issues and queries anonymously.
Dziesevolie, Academic Officer stressed on the need for the appropriate information on adolescence education among the teachers and the effort from all sections in combating against HIV/AIDS.
Metevinuo Sakhrie, Joint Director, IEC, NSACS briefed the participants about the objectives of the AEP and the importance of equipping the teachers with the right information who in turn will teach and guide the students.
She also talked on the implementation of 16-hour curriculum in schools.
“The AEP is to equip every adolescent (10-19 years) with information, knowledge and life-skills to protect themselves from HIV infections and manage their concerns pertaining to reproductive and sexual health and that the methodology of AEP is interactive, participatory and based on life-skills,” she said.
She also encouraged the teachers to take sessions on AEP for at least a minimum of 16 hours in one academic year.
K.Puthenhenmei, AD (YA), NSACS highlighted the evolution of AEP, the methodology and importance of AEP for teachers.
Thejangunuo Theunuo, DD (IEC), NSACS talked about the basics, transmission and preventive measures in combating HIV/AIDS and myths & misconceptions surrounding HIV/AIDS.
She also talked briefly about the importance of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and also talked on the topic Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI).
A topic on “Growing up and Adolescence Reproductive and Sexual Health” was explained by Puni Kokho, Senior Program Manager, Planning, National Health Mission, Nagaland.
He cited the importance of making the adolescents aware of the physical, emotional and social changes that they undergo during the adolescent years and how crucial a role the teacher plays in their formative years.
He also mentioned about the support of the government for promoting menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls (10-19 years) where sanitary napkins are made available free in schools or by providing at a subsidised rate through Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) .
‘Mental health and substance abuse’
Talking on the topic “Mental Health and Substance Abuse,” Dr. Viketoulie Pienyu, Senior Medical Officer, State Mental Health Institute highlighted about the importance of mental health and how it affects the adolescents and also about the abuse of substance at a very young age as a way of experimenting and trying out due to peer pressure and many other reasons.
He remarked that Indian policymakers are also realizing the needs of its citizens to be mentally healthy and stated that for a country to be progressive, it need its citizen to be mentally healthy.
Unlike other countries, he said, our society is mostly a family-care support system and therefore, it is important for a family to have proper knowledge on mental illness and care for such persons with love.
Meanwhile, NSACS informed that school level activities will be conducted after this training in coordination with NBSE.
Source: https://morungexpress.com/nagaland-online-training-of-teachers-on-adolescence-education-programme
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