Teaching personal hygiene : what is the situation in Maltese schools?

Abstract

Children should start learning about personal hygiene from an early age. The first point of learning is their home environment. The learning of hygiene practices that would help them avoid the spreading of germs and enjoy better health and wellbeing should then be continued at school. But is this being done amongst Maltese children? Are they aware to wash their hands, brush their teeth and take care of their own body? What is being done at school and in the curriculum? The researchers opted for both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to collect data. Approximately 90 visual questionnaires were designed for Year 2 children in one State and one Church school and a sample of questionnaires were distributed to the parents/legal guardians who handed their consent forms to the Head of school (either State or Church). The qualitative method involved conducting six interviews. Two interviews were conducted with the Heads of the two schools whereas four were carried out with Year 2 class teachers (two teachers in each school). The researchers found that in the schools studied, Personal Hygiene notions have been largely assimilated by the vast majority of children, and reinforced by both Heads and class teachers. However, provision for Personal Hygiene topics in any year 2 syllabus and in the curriculum leaves a lot to be desired.