A One-Day Girl’s Adolescent Awareness Programme for teachers was organized by Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) District Education Mission Office (DEMO) Dimapur Friday, at UBRC hall (Kuda) Nagarjan, Dimapur.
At the programme, resource person RBSK, medical officer Dimapur, Dr. Kadila highlighted health, hygiene, menstruation and related physiological changes that affect girls during the adolescent period. She pointed out that the period was an important stage in the phase of a girl’s life taking into account the overall development a girl goes through.
Focussing more on health issues, development stages and changes, Kadila pointed out the measures that could be taken to tackle girls’ issues. She maintained that educating adolescent girls may help the girl child through the seemingly never-ending cycle of issues like dropping out of schools, which can be see more among girls, low attendance, marriage at young ages and unwanted pregnancies. Specific inputs are necessary to enhance their self-esteem and self-confidence to familiarize them with problems related to women, she added.
The resource person also mentioned school sanitation as being also equally important in the context of creating safe and hygienic environments in schools which facilitates good academic environments.
She asserted that the manner in which a girl learns about menstruation and its associated changes may have an impact on her response to menarche and understanding of the health problems related to menstruation.
Earlier, a welcome address was delivered by Deputy District Education Officer (DDEO) Dimapur R. Amongla Jamir, where she welcomed the teachers representing schools of Dimapur and lauded them for their cooperation.
Since the adolescent period is a transitional period for a child with many developmental changes, teachers should act as guides to the children to help them understand the physical and psychological changes and the scientific reasons behind the changes, she said.
A booklet on Parenting and Teaching Skills for Raising Teens Part-I and Career Support for Girls Part-II were also distributed among the participants. The programme was chaired by RMSA district co-ordinator Aseno Yanthan.