58 attend NDAPU drug education workshops

The National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit (NDAPU) recognizes that children in preschool and kindergarten generally have limited knowledge about drugs.

Since the department is mandated to be responsible for all drug demand reduction and prevention programmes on the island, we are of the firm belief that educating children on the negative consequences of drug use and abuse as well as empowering them with the skills to SAY NO to negative influences at these very levels is of paramount importance.

In keeping with this mandate the NDAPU recently conducted two drug education workshops which brought together a total of fifty eight (58) Early Childhood Educators from around the island. The workshop was held at the Public Service Training Centre on the 8th and 15th of October, 2010 from 9:00am to 3:30pm.

The objectives of the workshops were as follows:

•    To increase Early Childhood Educators knowledge on drugs;
•    To sharpen their skills in their delivery of drug education to the pupils whom they serve;
•    To encourage them to use an integrated approach or a thematic approach to teaching drug education throughout the curriculum.

Facilitators for these workshops included the staff of the NDAPU and Mrs. Beverly Leblanc, Early Childhood Education Specialist.

A variety of methods and approaches were utilized in the delivery of the contents.  These included PowerPoint presentations, role playing, discovery learning, and group discussions.

The facilitators did a tremendous job in delivering their sessions. The participants were very enthusiastic, cooperative and their participation was commendable.

The NDAPU wishes to thank all Early Childhood Educators who responded to the initiative.  It would be important to note that there was an 82.9% attendance rate by the teachers invited.

We can only hope that they will employ the new skills that they have learnt to improve their teaching and the information that the children will learn will form part of the foundation for all future drug prevention efforts.

We also hope that through the various drug education programs children’s values will be shaped and as they grow older they will make responsible life choices such as refusing drugs and other negative pressures.

We encourage all early childhood educators to partner with NDAPU in the efforts of drug demand reduction.

One of the outcomes of this workshop will be the compilation of a manual for teaching drug education to early childhood learners in Dominica. This will also require the active involvement of a core of Early Childhood Educators who have already volunteered their participation.  This is expected to be done towards the ending of the school term into the beginning of the second term.

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