FACILITATING MARGINALIZED STUDENTS THROUGH LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Lubna Jaffer Mansuri

Dr., Bombay Teachers’ Training College, University of Mumbai.

Assistant Professor & Project Director,

Funded by ICSSR – Major Research, New Delhi, Email- mansurilubna2@gmail.com

 

Abstract

Life skills play a significant role in dealing with our daily chores. Cognitive life skills are higher order skills and are interconnected with other skills. It is important to enhance these life skills among school students specially students from low- socio- economic background. The present paper attempts to examine the decision making skill of students from low- socio economic backgrounds (Marginalized) of eighth standard from SSC board. The study adopted a two stage sampling technique. The total sample for the study was 320 students studying in eighth standard were selected from aided school in Mumbai city. The methodology of the present study was of an experiment type. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design of the pre-test- post-test, non-equivalent groups. The paper consists of two parts quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data. The intervention programme included lessons on decision- making skill. The statistical technique used for the quantitative data analysis was ANCOVA (Analysis of Covariance). The qualitative data analysis included the focused group interviews. The findings of the study shows that there is a significant difference in the post – test scores students on their decision making of control and experimental group after partialling out the effect of pre-test scores. The mean scores of experimental group are significantly higher than the mean scores of control group. The Life Skills Education Programme was effective in enhancing decision making of marginalized students. The effect size of the treatment on decision making was small. The qualitative data gives the views and opinion of students about the programme. The students liked and appreciated the programme. The activities helped the students to understand the decision making wheel and how it can be used in daily life to make decisions.

Keywords: Life skills education programme, decision making skill, low- socio- economic status, marginalized students