14 Oct 2019

The Ministry of Basic Education, in collaboration with UNESCO, have conducted an in-service teacher training workshop on comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for guidance and counseling teachers.

The week-long training in Maun attracted primary, junior and senior secondary school teachers from North West and Ghanzi districts.

It was aimed at providing teachers with information, skills and participatory approaches to delivering age-appropriate, culturally acceptable and scientifically accurate information on life skills, sexuality and HIV/AIDS education.

Teachers were also updated and equipped on emerging issues affecting learners such as development of early warning systems, positive learner discipline approaches and creating a supportive environment for learners who get pregnant to return to school. The workshop provided teachers with opportunities to explore their own values, attitudes and norms concerning sexuality and sexual relationships and also inculcated in teachers a caring and supportive attitude towards pregnant learners returning to school, and those affected and living with HIV.

According to UNESCO, there was a consensus that CSE programmes should be delivered by well-trained and supported teachers in school settings, as they provide an important opportunity to reach large numbers of young people with sexuality education before they become sexually active, as well as offering a structured environment of learning within which to do so. UNESCO believed that effective HIV and sexuality education for learners requires teachers with appropriate training and skills in the use of participatory methods and ongoing support.

Extensive evidence showed that effective comprehensive sexuality education programmes increased student knowledge about HIV and other health issues and delayed age of sexual debut by young people. ENDS