Vientiane Capital – Teachers, curriculum developers, education- and youth experts, including civil society organizations fruitfully discussed Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for Lower and Upper Secondary Education at a 3-day workshop organized by Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The workshop was held from 23-25 May, 2018 at Settha Palace Hotel.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is a very important programme to reach many adolescent girls and boys and equip them with the information they need to build their future. When adolescents and young people are provided with proper information, services and opportunities they will be better prepared to tackle the challenges while growing up. CSE plays a central role in enabling adolescents and young people to make healthy choices for their future; prevent early pregnancy and sexual transmitted infections and supporting them to have healthy relationships with their peers and parents.
Since 2012, UNFPA has been working with the Ministry of Education and Sports to introduce CSE in school education. Last year we have conducted a review and assessment of the use of teachers’ guidebook on CSE. Our assessment of the use of CSE teachers’ guidebook in secondary education highlighted that teachers, school management and students acknowledge and value the importance of CSE in schools.
“Young people and adolescents are the backbone of the Nation. These people will make great contribution to the country in the future. We should therefore not take CSE lightly, we must ensure that young people learn and apply the knowledge in their behavior” said Mr. Souksavanh Phonetheva, Deputy Director General of National Research Institute for the Education Science.
New international guidance on CSE was launched last year and based on experiences and reviews of many countries. Hence now it is the right time to review and update the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in lower and upper secondary education.
In Lao PDR, there are 1.4 Million adolescent boys and girls (aged 10-19 years), 21.9% of the population. According to the Lao Social Indicators Survey 2017-2018 (LSIS II); 41.8% of girls aged 15-17 years are out of school, 23.5% of girls aged 15-19 years are currently married or in union and there are 83 births per 1000 girls aged 15-19 years.
“Many data on adolescents show that girls face many challenges, we thank UNFPA for advocating and supporting Noi as a representative of adolescent girls in Laos. Because if adolescents and young people, especially girls are provided with quality information, services and opportunities they will be better prepared to face these challenges and will be able to develop themselves and of course, our country will gain fully benefit from this” said Ms. Keomanivanh Phimmahasai, Deputy Director General of Department of General Education
Early pregnancy leads to increased risk of illness, disabilities and death. Yet it is avoidable with the right information and services in place. The revised CSE that is developed needs to ensure that young people learn and develop appropriate skills. It will be cultural sensitive and adjusted grade wise and age appropriate contents for Biology and Population Studies, and other subjects where applicable such as safe use of ICT. It will help the teachers to apply participatory methodologies, along participatory activities that are attractive and interesting for students.
“Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) plays a central role in enabling children and young people, particularly our adolescent girls such as Noi to develop accurate and age appropriate knowledge, attitudes, skills and positive values including respect for gender equality and diversity that contribute to safe, healthy and positive relationships.” said Ms. Frederika Meijer, UNFPA Lao PDR Representative.
The workshop will come up with a strengthened CSE curriculum developed by a technical team of MoES, UNFPA and other partners. This revised curriculum will contribute to better sexual and reproductive health outcomes for young people and reduce unplanned pregnancies and subsequently reduce school dropouts particularly among adolescent girls.
UNFPA is the United Nations reproductive health and rights agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
Website: http://lao.unfpa.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnfpaLaos
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Kay amphone Singhalath, E-mail: Singhalath@unfpa.org
Tel: 021 267 680, Mob: 020 7777 6597
