Global Health and Second-level Education in Ireland: An active learning approach

In Ireland, there is a need to actively engage second level students on global health and development issues.  Currently there is significant work being done in this area, including non-governmental organisation (NGO) programmes and workshops on development issues in schools including the Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE) programme.  The Transition Year between the Junior and Senior Certificate programme in Ireland is a perfect opportunity for this type of learning, as it is here that students consider their future career and further study options.  However, the Irish Forum for Global Health (IFGH) feels that further efforts are needed to enhance the quality and consistency of teaching about global health under the banners of human rights, development education and global citizenship at secondary level.

On 17 April 2012, the IFGH and Trinity College Dublin’s Centre for Global Health (TCD CGH) facilitated a day of workshops on global health and development with approximately eighty-five Transition Year students (aged 15-17) at Donabate Community College.  These interactive workshops aimed to broaden students’ understanding of global health and development topics.  Workshop objectives included encouraging students to think in a critical manner about issues related to global health and development.  They also offered students the opportunity to practice key skills in this field, including presenting and debating.

You can download the full article from here.

The article can also be found in the current issue of Policy & Practice: A Development Education Review