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TOPIC 1: PROMOTION OF LIFE SKILLS
Life skills are the
mental abilities which enable a person to have self control. Through these
skills, a person is able to act, think or behave in an acceptable manner in the
community. Some of the life skills include: negotiation skills, relationship
skills, self-awareness skills and decision-making skills.
Life skills as a discipline, refers to the study that
provide knowledge and skills which enable people to cope with the day to day
socio-economic affairs in the ever changing world.
The advancement of science and technology,
diversification of culture, population growth and interaction of different
cultures intensifies the need for education on life skills in secondary schools
and to common citizens. Life skills therefore, enable people to cope with the
rapid socio-economic, culture and political changes brought by global
interactions.
Promotion of Life Skills refers to the deliberate efforts to encourage and
cultivate social values, knowledge and ability of individuals in solving
problems. It helps individuals control themselves in a more acceptable manner.
SOCIAL PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES
People face various problems, especially when they
struggle to achieve better life. Social problems are difficulties that affect
people in a community. These problems hinder various developments in communities.
People always struggle to solve these problems by using a variety of
techniques. These techniques are known as social problem solving techniques,
and they are applied in societies.
Therefore, Problem solving techniques are ways
though which people solve different problems encountered in their societies.
Societies have different ways of solving problems due to the varieties of
problems. Because of these variations, techniques of solving these problems
differ a great deal. Speaking skills can be one of them.
The following are some of the techniques that are usually
employed in solving problems:
1. Cooperative techniques: this is away of solving problems
whereby a person who has a problem exposes it to other people so that they can
help each other to overcome it. This technique is very useful because different
people are involved in tackling the existing problem. Solving problems
collectively is more effective than tackling problems individually.
2. Guidance and
counselling: There are problems which cannot be solved physically or mechanically.
Instead, they need psychological treatment. The counselling treatment is applied
to people who suffer mentally or emotionally. For example, HIV/AIDS victims and drug
addicts need counselling so as to make them feel comfortable. In the
counselling technique, the problem is not actually solved. What is done in
counselling is simply to give psychological relief. Through guidance and
counselling, a person is given ways of solving the problem or coping with it.
Counselling acts as the curative measure as it helps one to cope with the
situation and feel comfortable.
3. Working hard: It
is an appropriate method to the problem that is caused by laziness. For
example, lack of food and good shelter can be solved by working hard. Working
hard has proved to be one of the effective means to success to success. It’s
advisable that, hard work should be employed in both mental and physical
activities so that many problems could easily be solved.
4. Seeking advice
from individual persons: It is a technique that is very familiar to many people
for a number of years in problem solving. Every day experiences show that, many
people pay visit to other in searching advice to solve their problems. In most
cases, people consulted are those who are considered to be wise. With enough
knowledge and experience about various problems. At school, for example, a
student may seek advice from his/her fellow students or a teacher on how to
conduct private studies in order to avoid failures in examinations.Likewise a
person who faces a problem in business can seek advice from well experienced
fellow business people on how to solve it.
5. Reading books:
Some books tell us something about life skills. Such books give different
suggestions on how to solve problems. For example there are books which help people
with psychological problem to recover. People are encouraged to build habits to
read both fictional and non-fictional stories. They usually aim at refreshing
their mind and acquire problem solving skills.
It is important for a
person who is seeking advice to consider the nature of his/her problem before
deciding on what to do. There are problems which may not be solved by
individual people, so they need collective solutions. Normally problems of this
kind need specific strategies to eradicate them. In addition, an advice seeker
should carefully examine every piece of advice given before implementation. It
is however important to note that, for every piece of advice given, it might
have an implication. So, the advice seeker should be very careful when implementing
or executing it.
The Importance of Applying Problem Solving Techniques
Problem solving is
very important in societies because thetechnique lays afoundation for realising
ideal solutions to the problem encountered. Problem solving techniques arevery
important because:
1. The method helps
people to get the required possible solutions to various problems. If all steps
are carefully followed, the probability of realizing the best solutions is very
high.
2. Common people get
enough skills and knowledge to problem solving in society, hence reduce
government expenditure.
3. Many different
options for social problem solving can be used depending on the nature of the
problem in the society.
EFFECTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
Since communities are
problem oriented, people always engage themselves in solving those problems. We
can, therefore, realise that problems are part and parcel of human life. So, it
is the duty of every society or community so solve its problems effectively. Effective problem solving is determined by the
use of effective strategies. The effectiveness of the solution depends on the
right alternatives that can help to eliminate the problem stated in the
society.
The Importance of Effective Problem Solving
It has to be
understood that problem solving is a necessary process in every society. The
following are the advantages of effective problem solving.
1. Effective problem
solving restores peace and harmony to the people who have victims. Peace and
harmony helps people to live comfortably. Unity and solidarity may be promoted
among people of a given society. For example people who have been in conflict
for a long time, usually enjoying being free and peaceful once they are reconciled.
2. Effective problem
solving can reduce the occurrence of deaths. Some deaths are usually due to
problems such as misunderstanding among family members or a given society. Immediate
and effective problem solving can reduce the rate of misunderstandings among
people. Misunderstanding usually influence social affections, this may leads to
the occurrence of wars, hence causing loss of many people’s lives. Burundi,
Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo have experienced such problems which
are mostly due to tribal misunderstandings.
3. Effective problem
solving can promote development in the society. Problems are the major
obstacles to the development in many societies in the world. For example, diseases
weaken peoples health. In that situation there is possibility for that society
to have less development. To avoid this, effective problem solving strategies
need to be promoted.
Steps in the Problem Solving Process
To solve problems successfully there are some specific
steps to undertake. The following are some of the basic steps:
1. Initiating Mediation. Mediation is one of the
processes used in problem solving. In this process, two parties are reconciled
by athird party. The letter is referred to as the mediator. The mediator
assists people involved in a conflict to negotiate and come up to a mutual
agreement. We say mediation is effective if the conflicting parties become
friendly at the end of reconciliation. Its a failure if the parties continue
with their conflict after the conciliation process.
Initiating mediation is technically called problem
identification in research procedures. This is because initiating mediation
prepares good ground for proper understanding of the problem. Through
mediation, factors that cause conflict are put to light as people involved in
the conflict are asked about the sources of their disputes.
2. Gathering Information. In order to solve any
problem there should enough information collected about the problem at hand. It
is through information gathering that important data can be obtained. It is
important to collect data about the existing problem in order to understand what
actually causes the problem. For example if one wants to solve the problem
about malaria in a particular area, there is the need to have enough
information about its causes.
Likewise, a doctor can cure a disease after doing through
investigation about it. Information gathering has, for years, been used in
establishing different projects. Project developers have to collect facts or
prior information about the area in which they want to conduct their projects.
Ways of Gathering Information
Information is gathered using different techniques. The
techniques are determined by the nature of the problem that needs solution. The
following are among of the tools/techniques employed in information gathering:
1. Observation
It is physically done by examining the situation which
surrounds the problem. In this tool, a person uses his/her eyes to look at the
incident and any available records. There are problems which can be easily
solved after being observed. For example if one wants to control the spread of
malaria at place, he/she will be required to observe factors that are likely to
speed up the spread of the disease.
The presence of tall grasses, ponds and other structures
that facilitate stagnant water provide favourable condition for mosquitoes to
lay eggs and multiply. These will be the area of interest of the observer. In
contrast, if there is cholera one will observe dirtiness of the environment. The
observer will look at the presence of feces from animals or human beings and
other dirty materials which support vibro cholera bacteria to multiply at a
high rate.
2. Questionnaire
It is an instrument that has a series of question whereby
each one provides a number of alternative answer from which the respondent can
choose.The questions are normally written on a prepared sheet of paper. The
questions are given to the targeted people who are required to respond accordingly.
Through these answers, the researcher can analyse the data and finally draw a conclusion
about the problem stated.
Example; is
malaria present in your area? Mention the factor you think have contributed to
the spread of malaria in your village. When answers are given to the above
questions, the researcher will understand the extent of the problem. As a
result the researcher will give suggestions on how to help these people solve
their problem. People are supposed to bear in mind that this tool has its
limitation, For instance, questionnaires are only possible with literate people
[those who can read and write].This means, there will be no response from
illiterates.
3. Interview
An interview refers to a verbal interaction between the
interviewer and the interviewee [respondent]. An interview is usually designed
to collect information and people opinions and feelings on the problem. In
fact, it is a face-to-face conversation between individuals. With interview, an
individual, respondent or a group of respondents who provide instant responses
to oral questions are questioned. The interviewer asks and jots down the answers
given by the interviewees [respondents).
The responses are noted down so that they can later be
analysed to see how they correlate with the problem researched. A conclusion is
made and suggestions are given. Interviews are the most effective tools
compared to other tools. For example, there is a room for making an additional
clarification. Interview is inclusive as it can be used by both literate and illiterate
people.
4. Reading different Books and other Materials related to the Problem
Sometimes answers to the problems can be found in books,
journals and other written material which provide the necessary data needed by
the researcher. These data are known as secondary data. By reading previous
studies the problem seeker can see how other people tried to get the related
problems. Materials should be of recent and related to the problem
investigated. In that way the problem seeker is able to spell out the problem
clearly. Mass media by means of audio and audio-vision materials (i.e.
documentary review) Radio, television, newspaper and magazine are good examples
of mass media.
Through different programs we can get a lot of
information related to the problem whether directly or indirectly. Also different
ways of solving problem can be learnt from the radio and television. Lesson
obtained from the radio and television programmers can help one to draw a
conclusion about how to solve the problem that one is dealing with. Eventually,
the problem seeker develops strategies of solving the problem.
5. Scientific Experiences
Experiments of this kind are used by mostly specialists
of different disciplines. Doctors, for example, can conduct experiment that
involves investigation for the causes of different diseases on human beings and
animals. The aim of using scientific experiment is to find out all important
facts about the problem that need solution. Through scientific experiments much
information can be gathered and recognised by the specialist to deal with the
problem.
6. Defining the Problem
After gathering the information, one can state the
problem. One can easily tell the factors which cause the problem to be solved.
A person can precisely make a statement about the problem in a particular area
with the aid of the collected information. For instance, the researcher can
generalize that poor academic performance is mainly caused by truancy. Normally
the definition or statement of the problem has to be precise. Stating the
problem is sometimes a hard thing to do, especially if one has no supporting
facts. Otherwise, with supporting facts it is a simple exercise.
7. Generating Alternatives
The aim of collecting information about the problem is to
find possible answers to the underlying problem. Normally, the information
gathered provides a general picture about possible causes of a particular
problem. For example, the outbreak of cholera can be attributed by the use of
unclear or no-boiled water, lack of proper toilets and other agents which
facilitate cholera transmission. Knowing the reason or factor for occurrence of
the problem leads to the proper development of solutions.
Taking the example of
cholera above, boiling are water, constructing toilets, educating people on the
use of toilets properly and proper waste disposal can be suggested as solutions
to the problem, since the causes are known. As causes of problems vary, also
alternatives for solving the problems depending on the nature of the problem to
be solved will vary. Suggestions given to people suffering from malaria differ
from those given to people who are subjected to poverty.
8. Agreeing in Solution
In order for suggested solutions to be effective, there
should be agreements. These agreements can involve what to do in order to avoid
the re-occurrence of the same problem. For example poor academic performance
which is mainly caused by absentees in school; the tendency of attending to school
will ensure good, students will also be required to work hard and behave in a
good manner.
In order for these processes to be implemented
effectively, there must be conducive school environment. Contrary to that, all
those solutions may not succeed. Therefore, stake holders ought to make sure
that the strategies proposed are seriously implemented. At the same time those
who tend to ignore the agreements supposed to be punished. They may be forced
to pay fines which will serve as the lesson to them, according to the by-laws.
Good notes, we are waiting for the form three and four
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