Death Education in Czech Elementary Schools

Project facts

Project promoter:
Cesta domů, z.ú.(CZ)
Project Number:
CZ-ACTIVECITIZENS-0131
Status:
In implementation
Initial project cost:
€79,020
Programme:

More information

Description

Death and dying are seen as taboo topics. Many people die in hospitals receiving care that does not correspond to their wishes. The nonprofit organization „Cesta domů“ („Homecoming“) has been working for more than 20 years on changing the view on how the Czech society perceives end-of-life themes. We provide hospice care in Prague and we offer a further education in palliative care. In 2021, we carried out research among teachers at the Czech elementary schools to find whether they are able to discuss death-related topics with pupils. The research has shown that they are not trained in it and need adequate assistance; the COVID-19 pandemic has increased this need even more. The research shows that 57 % of questioned teachers faced a situation connected with death (i.e. death of a pupil or a staff colleague) nevertheless only 5 % of them consider themselves to be able to cope with it appropriately. They do not know neither where to find trustful information nor do they have any school-policy in the case of an emergency. The aim of the project is to build a team of lecturers who will prepare a series of educational activities and informative documents to help teachers in introducing the topic naturally into Czech schooling. First, the team itself will be trained by crisis intervention experts. Consequently, it will organize workshops for teachers on how to talk with the children about death-related topics, and for headmasters on how to prepare a methodological plan for crisis situations. We will launch a web-side with supportive materials. Teachers who will profit from our workshops and the web-side will see death as a natural part of life. Instead of being scared of it, they can help pupils to focus on restoring the value of living.

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