Population Education B.Ed. 2015-16

M.VijayalakshmiAssistant Professor

5.2. Population Education

Meaning, Objectives and Importance. Introducing contents

status – Factors affecting – Remedial Measures for Controlling

Population, Small Family Norms, Advantages.

Meaning

• An exploration of knowledge and attitudes about population, the family and sex. • Includes Population awareness,

Family living, Reproduction education, Basic values.

Definition

• UNESCO (Bangkok Conference, 1970)An Education programme which provides for a study of the population situation of the family, community, nation and world with the purposes of developing it and students’ rational and responsible attitudes and behaviour towards that situation

Concept • Growth rate = Birth rate – Death rate +Total

migration of population• i.e. Growth rate = Birth rate – Death rate +

Immigration – Emigration• Growth rate ratio = zero – no increase• 0.00 to 1.00 – Gentle• 1.00 to 1.5 – Fast• 1.50 to 2.00 – Very Rapid• 2.00 and above - Exploding

Birth Rate = Annual Births---------------------------- * 1000Mid Year Population

Death Rate =Annual Deaths---------------------------- * 1000Mid Year Population

Growth Rate =Annual Increase ---------------------------- * 1000Mid Year Population

Objectives

• To develop a understanding ofRelevant demographic concepts and processesThe rapid growth of population and its causesThe influence of population trends on various

aspects of human lifeThe close interaction of population growth and

developmental programmes for raising the standard of living

The evil effects of overpopulation on environment

The scientific and medical advancement resulting in the imbalance between death and birth rate

The biological factors and phenomenon of reproduction responsible for continuation of species

• To develop an attitude of responsibility and mutual help and cooperation in all aspects of personal and family living

• To provide students with a basic demographic vocabulary so that they are able to read and interpret demographic material with some understanding

• To develop an appreciation of The small family norms as proper and

desirable

The relation between population size and the quality of life

The fact that the family size is a matter of deliberate choice and human regulation

The relationship between the preservation of the health of the mother, the welfare of the children and the small size of the family

The fact that the actions of each individual affect others and also that the personal and national decisions concerning family size and population have long ranging consequences for the whole world

• To develop an awareness of population of population policies and programmes of the country

Importance • Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens• They must know the Population and its

consequences• Education – effective way to conscientize people

of the need for accepting ‘small family norm’ • Students – play major role – spreading this

message• Trained – how to spread• Hence it is necessary to include Population

Education in the school curriculum

Content Areas in Population Education

• Population and Economic Development• Population and Social Development• Population, Environment and Resources• Population and Family Life• Population, Health and Nutrition• Population Dynamics• Emerging issues – adolescents, sexually

transmitted diseases like AIDS

Curriculum at the Primary Stage

• Social Life• Life• Environment• Family Life• Health • Nutrition • Educational Life• Demographic Implications

Curriculum of Population Education at Secondary Stage

• Social Life• Economic Life• Demographic Implication• Sex Life• Environmental Life• Family Life

How to introduce the concepts of Population Education

• Integrated Approach – School level• Diffused through the entire school

programme • In various subjects – plug points• Jointly shared by all

Correlating School subjects with Population Education Programme

• Languages – stories, essays, blank verses etc – Mother Tongue, Regional Language, Hindi and English

• Social Studies – statistics on population education, material on the impact of population explosion on socio-economic development of the nation

• Mathematics – population growth in cities – percentages, bar graphs etc

• Science and Health Education– problems related to fertility, reproduction and family planning etc

Teacher’s Role• Pre-service and in-service programmes• Efforts to inculcate the necessary psychological

insight, meaningful awareness and appropriate attitudes in the minds of students

• Skill – makes the programme dynamic, interesting and meaningful for children

• Methods – individual, group projects, panel or group discussions

• Collect pictures, consolidate data and present materials to the class in a dynamic and meaningful manner

India’s Population – At Present• India – 2001 census – 102.7 crores• with over 1.2 billion people (July 2015)• More than One-sixth of the population• Second largest populous country in the world• Already containing 17.5% of the world's population• Increases by 1.7 crores every year• We constitute 16.17% of the world population with

only 2.4% of the total land area• India is projected to be the

world's most populous country by 2022• A rapid action programme – necessary

Tamil Nadu State

• 7,21,47,030 Population• Males – 3,61,37,975• Females – 3,60,09,055• Literacy – 80.09• Rural – 3,49,21,681• Urban – 2,74,83,998• Area – 1,30,058• Density – 555

Causes of population explosion in IndiaChild Marriage

Polygamy

Joint Family System

Superstitions

Backwardness of Women

Illiteracy

High Birth Rate and Low Death Rate

• Infant mortality has come down from 215 in 1901 to 74 in 1964

• Longevity increased. Now the average expectation of life at birth is 52

• Marriage is considered a duty in India. Every married couple want children

• Early marriage at the age of 14. Fertile rate is high in that age group.

• Rural people – ignorant – family planning• Believe – beneficial at their old age• Widow re-marriages • Death Rate – decreased – improved health and

medical facilities

Consequences of Over PopulationProblem of foodProblem of shelterUnemploymentHealth problemEnvironment degradationFragmentation of agricultural holdingsThreat to economic developmentUrbanizationPrice hike and inflationDestruction of values

Why should population be controlled ?• To improve quality of life • To increase employment opportunities• To increase per capita food supply • To improve housing facilities• To improve medical facilities• To improve educational facilities• To increase time for rest and recreation• To improve life security• To minimize social problems and evils• To make the earth more suitable for life

How to control Population increase ?

• Raise the Age of Marriage• Limit Pregnancy to the Healthiest Period• Give Sufficient Spacing• Improve the Status of Women• Popularize the Small Family Norms• Propagate Family Welfare programmes• Popularize Population Education

Small Family