T.F.F.S. - Course on Life-skills

On the occasion of the Birth Centenary of the founder Chairman of SAIC - Sri Pradyot Kumar Bhattacharya (Daddy) , The Future Foundation School launched a new course on "Life Skills". The teaching of life skills starts with the youngest children and nothing is too small to be included in the curriculum. The content of the syllabus varies according to the age of the children.

For example, at the juniormost level, one of the things that the children learn is to tie their shoelaces. Later on they learn how to keep their shoes clean. The immediate outcome of this has been that children come to school with clean shoes and are able to tie their own shoelaces. The young children have also learnt the best way to pack their school bags so that they are no longer dependent on their parents for this. They have also learnt about care and maintenance of their clothes, including laundry, starching, ironing and stain removal. They have also learnt to mend their clothes, including hemming and putting on buttons as well as to fold them and put them away neatly. This results in the children coming to school in better-maintained uniforms. Through all this, they have also learnt about the basics of hygiene. Elementary first aid has also been taught to them. Measuring temperature, reading blood pressure, head wash in case of fever, first aid for cuts, burns, fainting and tying of slings are taught. As a concomitant of all these topics, the children have been taught how to plan their time. This helps them in their daily lives as also during periods of stress such as examination time. Social-skills and the basics of etiquette have also been included in this course of life skills.

Most of the teaching/learning is through practical work. A lot of equipment has been procured for these practical classes and the timetable has been adjusted in order to accommodate these classes. Life skills is also integrated with other subjects. Thus, while children learn about biodegradable waste in environmental education, this learning is consolidated through practical work in the life-skills classes. Children have also learnt about consumer education and how to become a conscious consumer.

After learning how to launder their own socks and hankies, the children were very keen to do this at home. Hoever they faced objections from their parents and it was discovered through this teaching/learning programme that parent-counselling was also needed so that parents help their children in becoming more responsible and independent.

The course also includes information on the five food groups and the different meals of the day, correct posture in class, handling sharp or pointed objects like knife, needle, appropriate conduct in a school uniform, boarding and alighting from a vehicle, purchase of consumer goods, making of beds at home, washing of plates, different methods of cooking, stitching, hemming etc. Cooking tips have been introduced with special focus on the nutritive value of food, the cleanliness of the cooking area and utensils before and after cooking. This helps the children to develop a keen awareness of their immediate environment.