Southern Sun O.R. Tambo - Johannesburg, South Africa CSTL Sharing Meeting 2014 [Psychosocial care and support in Zambian schools] [BRIDGET MOYA] [ZAMBIA] Southern Sun O.R. Tambo - Johannesburg, South Africa 17-20 November 2014

Presentation Outline A description of the programme or policy Achievements Challenges Opportunities/Emerging Issues Key lessons learnt

A description of the programme or policy A six-module highly practical Diploma course was launched in August 2013 by the Ministry in conjunction with REPSSI; The course is intended to change the way teachers interact with each other & with learners as well as how a school interacts with the community;

Achievements Developed Guidelines on the administration & management of Guidance & Counselling in the education system; psychosocial support has been mainstreamed into the whole school; access, retention, achievement, and progression of learners within the education system has been enhanced;

Achievements Cont’d teachers on the programme have shown ability to engage school management and other teachers; teachers who have taken part in the programme have shown enhanced capacity to help learners to achieve their potential;

Challenges Lack of a policy framework that ensures that the programme becomes a mandatory course Teachers acquiring this course have are not provided for under the school establishment The lack of an effective tracking and monitoring mechanism?? Mobilising and encouraging staff and community to support the programme

Opportunities/Emerging Issues An enhanced capacity of teachers to help learners to achieve their potential; Teachers are equipped with skills for arranging and organising classrooms & ways of teaching; Effective management of the social and physical environment of the school; and Enhancing relations between the school and community.

Key Lessons Learnt Need for a national policy for ensuring that the programme becomes a mandatory course for all teachers; Need to place guidance and counselling teachers on the establishment; Need for an implementation framework for ensuring effective tracking and monitoring of the programme;

Key Lessons Learnt Cont’d Need for effective strategies for mobilising and encouraging staff and community support to the programme; Need to develop a Communication Strategy; and Need to develop a mechanism for enforcing the timetabling of guidance and counselling on the school timetable at all levels.

Comments and Questions from the Floor & Other Panellists.