Population education in Sierra Leone

Educafrica. 1985 Jun:(12):99-110.

Abstract

PIP: The 1977 Sierra Leone 3 year population education project had 5 objectives: 1) to develop a core of Sierra Leoneans qualified in population education, 2) to integrate population education concepts into the curriculum for secondary schools and teachers colleges, 3) to train teachers already engaged in trial teaching in pilot schools in the new integrated curricula to give support to their colleagues, 4) to integrate population education into the whole Sierra Leone educational system, and 5) to create an awareness of the implications of population growth on the socioeconomic development of the country. A 1977 seminar on the Social Studies and Population Education Program discussed population issues and economic and social development. The strategy recommended at the seminar was that both the minor and the major revision approaches be used in the integration of population education concepts into the existing curriculum of the National Program in Social Studies for the lower secondary level. A Spiral Curriculum was established in 1981 constructed of 6 topics: 1) man's origins, development, and characteristics; 2) man's environment; 3) man's culture; 4) population and resources; 5) communication in the service of man; and 6) global issues-achievement and problems. Both at in-service and at pre-servicetraining, the enquiry method of teaching was emphasized. By the end of December 1981, the curriculum in Social Studies integrated with Population Education was completed for secondary schools and secondary teachers' colleges. The availability of the textbooks that secondary school students will take to their homes for their parents to read will contribute immensely to the attainment of the development objective of creating an awareness of the implications and consequences of population growth on the socioeconomic development of the country.

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Africa South of the Sahara
  • Africa, Western
  • Developing Countries
  • Economics
  • Education*
  • Health Planning
  • Information Services*
  • Organization and Administration
  • Sex Education*
  • Sierra Leone
  • Social Change
  • Social Planning
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Teaching*