SIGNIFICANCEOFLIFE SKILLS EDUCATION

Abstract

Adolescence is a period when the intellectual, physical, social, emotional and all the capabilities are veryhigh, but, unfortunately, most of the adolescents are unable to utilise their potential to maximum due tovariousreasons.Theyfacemanyemergingissuessuchasglobalwarming,famines,poverty,suicide,population explosion as well as other issues like alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual abuse, smoking, juveniledelinquency, anti-social acts, etc. that have an adverse effect on them and others too, to a large extent. Thecut-throat competition, unemployment, lack of job security, etc. are some of the major concerns for theeducated and as a result, they are caught in the mad race. This new challenge requires immediate andeffective responses from a socially responsible system of education. ‘Education’ is important, but educationto support and live life better is more important. It has been felt that life skills education bridges the gapbetween basic functioning and capabilities. It strengthens the ability of an individual to meet the needs anddemands of the present society and helps in dealing with the above issues in a manner to get desired behaviorpractical. Imparting life skill training through inculcating life skill education will help youth to overcomesuchdifficulties in life.

The present paper focuses on the importance of life skills education and the benefits of imparting life skilleducation in our curriculum i.e. developing social, emotional & thinking skills in students, as they are theimportantbuildingblocksforadynamiccitizen,whocancopeupwithfuturechallenges,andsurvivewell.