Teacher training on strategies to support students in primary and elementary schools 

Education is a top priority in Bougainville’s efforts to become more self-reliance and prosperous in future. The challenge however is great. In addition to a “lost generation” of illiterate youth resulting from the severe disruption of past conflict, nearly half the population is of school age (40% aged under 15 (O'Keefe, 2019)).  

 

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville is working hard to expand educational opportunities, and it is essential that students are not held back by hearing loss. Studies have shown that children with even a mild hearing loss are more likely to have academic difficulties (Winiger, 2016).

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For students with a hearing loss going to school with a hearing loss can be frustrating and isolating. These students need inclusive strategies to assist their learning. 

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Bougainville Besties have developed a booklet outlining behavioural signs to help teachers identify students with a possible hearing loss and teaching strategies to support students with a hearing loss in the classroom. 

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Strategies include techniques on speaking to the class, giving instructions, holding discussions, using visual resources, seating in the class room, reducing background noise, social participation, and encouraging parental involvement.

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Teachers provided with the booklet, and introductory training by Callan Services, as part of a Harim Gut Mo study identified 37% of their students as possibly having some degree of hearing loss using a checklist of behavioural signs.

 

All the teachers agreed that they found matching the common signs against behaviours of students in their class was helpful.

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After using the strategies for six months 100% of teachers agreed that using the teaching strategies benefited students who may have a hearing loss in their classroom and that using the strategies also benefitted other students in their classroom.