INTRODUCTION
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THIS GUIDE PROVIDES basic information, ideas and advice to
help those who teach people Mine Awareness. The word "teacher"
applies to all those who instruct people in safe behaviours in mine-
infested areas. The Guide is also intends to help those who train these
teachers.
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In addition, it can be used to help people to plan, design, test, and
use educational tools and methods for teaching people ways to protect
them- selves and others from the dangers of mines and unexploded
ordnance (UXO).
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Rather than presenting syllabus and cuuiculum, the Guide offers
ideas and advice that can be incorporated into Mine Awareness
programmes appropriate to local culture, traditions and social
practice.
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The many differences that distinguish people and the areas where
they live from one another make it impossible to use the same guide
for teaching everywhere. These differences include terrain and
vegetation, styles of communication, culture, traditions and practice.
There are other problems, too. For example: schoolteacher plays a
major role in instructing children in Mine Awareness. But in many
areas with mine problems, educational structures are weak, teachers
poorly paid and lacking in motivation. Also many children do not
attend school.
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This means that, although certain basic rules of self-protection
do not differ, each Mine Awareness programme must be different,
so as to cater to specific groups of people and to provide instruction
in the peoples own language.
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Some basic thinking and ideas in education and peoples
psychology can be incorporated in all guides -as they are in this one.
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This Guide attempts to follow the Guidelines published in 1999 by
UNICEF, which has been appointed lead agency for Mine Awareness in the UN system.
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