Pedagogical Analysis of Social Skills in Colleges: Implications to Social Health

Abstract

Development of schools of thought in the concept of health yielded three dimensions of health: physical, psychological
and social which fertilized the World Health Organization’s concept of health. Health education curricular particularly at the
tertiary level has advanced the course of physical and psychological dimension of health to the negligence of social health.
Advances in orthodox medicine, have established the scientific bases of social health. Health education curriculum outlines by
the National Commission of Colleges of Education (NCCE) ought to advance the course of social health. this is to emphasize its
role in nation building particularly in averting many socially rooted or socially provoked health problems. The paper presents the
need for curriculum reform in health education in order to portray the need to interpersonal skills in social health education in
Nigeria. The first three levels of relationship: acquaintance, associate and friendship relationships were presented as the corner
stone of social skills from which other relational skills emanate. It is recommended that interpersonal skills should be presented
by teachers as core social health needs of students.