What

Primary school teachers are trained in more participatory teaching techniques that are more interactive with the pupils and which incorporate health and environment messages into the curriculum.

Why

With over half Madagascar's population being under the age of 15 and the majority of children never reaching secondary school, it is essential to improve primary school teaching and ensure that it is more relevant to daily needs. Experience has shown that children are very fast learners and are also good at passing on messages to their friends and families. Teaching about hygiene, family health, vegetable gardening and tree-planting not only benefits pupils but their whole communities.

Results

Using this approach, impressive results have been achieved in vaccination rates, reforestation, vegetable growing and hygiene promotion, in schools and villages in targeted areas. Annual objectives on health and environment standards are set by the school committees, and an evaluation is carried out to assess results.