Background:
The WASH consortium organized a regional workshop in Feb,
2017 at Tulshipur, Dang where the stakeholders across Nepal including
activists, role models and government people gathered and declared a 15 points
commitment for creating environment for dignified menstruation. Among them a
commitment was develop a school curriculum from grade four to ten. Therefore,
this workshop was organized in September 15-16, 2017 where total 40 participants
working together represented as teachers, resource person, students, parents,
government representatives from education, water supply and sanitation, health,
women and child development, NGOs from Dang district.
Methodology:
To create enabling environment for share and discussion, the
entire workshop commenced with informal way. There was four inclusive group and
assigned for the series of workshop. The discussion, question answer, one-one
discussion, presentation, plenary discussion was used during workshop. However,
there was short inaugural and closing session, where district education office,
Dang chaired the program and regional directorate was chief guest followed by
the presentation on dignified menstruation and policy update from Radha, lead
facilitator and project overview by Raj Kumar, Nepal Red Cross Society,
Nepalgunj.
Results and
Discussion:
The first group work identified the average ages of students
who are studying at grade four to ten and their emotional, physical, social and
other changes. This group work also identified the key gaps in current
textbooks in aligning with dignified menstruation. Same groups worked in
current textbooks and identified the gaps in terms of contents, methodology and
practices. Each group presented in plenary and got input from friends and again
work in group and finalized the entire chapters for students from grade four to
ten.
In grade four there is no single info regarding menstruation
where students get confused from observation at home and might 1-5 % girls have
menstruation. Group suggested to add a paragraph to discuss the hygiene of
private parts and taking care of toilets after use.
In grade five simply
speak a sentence but not address where about 25 % girls have already have
menstruation. Group suggested to add bit more about menstrual hygiene including
pads, cleansing, drying etc.
Grade six and seven have brief content on menstruation but
bit jumping and mentioned technical word. Therefore, group suggested to normalize
the contents as coherence order as grade 5, 6.
Grade eight has not have any things regarding menstruation,
simply speaks about reproductive system. Therefore, group suggested to add
menstrual cycle, bit more on menstrual health and hygiene and role in
community.
Grade nine has a long
chapter but too much technical. By the time of grade eight and nine, almost all
girls have period and almost all boys know about menstruation from family
members and others thus, both grade eight and nine have to have bit advance
information with simple illustration of role of boys and girls for initiating
dialogue.
In grade ten, suggested to add a chapter including bit more
info about phases of menstruation, sanitary products, role of eliminating myths
and misperceptions around menstruation.
Acknowledgement:
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to provide this
opportunity. I really enjoyed and enriched. I impressed from the dedication of government
people.
NB: I do not ask anything, simply I flew and facilitated the
entire workshop as voluntary basis. Swiss red cross simply arranged travel,
food and accommodation till date.
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Namaste, Salam Alekam and good morning, All protocols observed. ü I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude for this award