Developing a Hygiene-Focused Colouring Book: An Innovative Educational Approach for Promoting Sanitation and Environmental Sustainability in Ghanaian Schools:

Ralitsa Diana Debrah; Justice  Koranteng; Adam Rahman; Kwabena Afriyie Poku

Ralitsa Diana Debrah 1Department of Communication Design, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0824-7262
Justice Koranteng Koforidua Technical University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1910-6596
Adam Rahman Department of Communication Design, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4317-1742
Kwabena Afriyie Poku Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5548-9642

Keywords: Sanitation, sustainability, educational colouring book, waste disposal, contagious diseases

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a new method for a colouring book focusing on hygiene for schoolchildren in Ghana. This approach was designed to improve their understanding of hygiene practices and promote environmental sustainability. Insufficient sanitation has severe consequences, especially for mpoverished communities, as it contributes to the spread of infectious diseases that disproportionately affect young individuals. According to the World Health Organisation, a staggering 600 million urban residents lack access to proper housing and basic sanitary services, including clean water and effective waste management. These challenging conditions primarily impact impoverished populations living in remot areas, making them invisible in terms of government assistance for sanitation and healthcare programmes. Inadequate waste disposal methods can lead to fatal infectious diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, tuberculosis, and dengue fever, particularly among young people. The study employed a studio-based approach to develop an educational colouring book. This book, a type of activity book, combines the creative engagement of colouring with instructional content. Its primary aim is to effectively teach children about the importance of sanitation and how to improve their hygiene practices. This colouring book serves as an interactive and enjoyable tool for children to learn about maintaining cleanliness in their surroundings, practising proper hand washing, and disposing of waste appropriately. By engaging children through pictures and activities, the colouring book successfully promotes good hygiene practices and helps prevent the transmission of diseases caused by inadequate sanitation

Author Biography

Justice Koranteng, Koforidua Technical University

Justice Koranteng is an assistant lecturer at Koforidua Technical University, Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, working in the Department of Fashion Design and Textiles. He has an impressive educational background, holding a degree in MPhil Communication Design from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a B.Ed. in Art Education (Graphic Design) from the University of Education, Winneba. Additionally, he obtained a 3-year postsecondary certificate in education from the SDA College of Education in Asokore-Koforidua, Ghana.

As a dedicated researcher, Justice has contributed to the academic community with one published article in a peer-reviewed journal and one research report in the KNUST research report of 2019. He is actively involved in scholarly work and serves as a reviewer for four esteemed journals, namely the International Journal of Learning, Teaching, and Educational Research (IJLTER), the Research Journal in Advanced Humanities (RJAH), the Journal of African History, Culture, and Arts (JAHCA), a the Journal of Innovations in Art and Culture for Nature Conservation and Environmental Sustainability (JINCES), and the International Journal of Design Education, where he has completed an impressive 45 reviews.

His research interests are centered on teaching and learning pedagogies, art and design principles, Indigenous people, and visual culture issues. Justice's dedication to education and the arts is further exemplified by his role as a WAEC Examiner and Zonal Leader (Ashanti Region) for General Knowledge in Art, Paper 3B, since 2015. Moreover, he has actively contributed to shaping art education at the senior high school level in Ghana and other West African Examination Council (WAEC) partners globally by assisting in writing the Chief Examiner's Report on both teachers and students' performance.