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The
entrenchment of Sexuality Education in the curriculum
of tertiary institutions in Lagos state moved a step
towards actualization with the formal presentation of
items for the take-off of the project by AHI's Executive
Director, Mrs. Nike Esiet. Items donated include: a
14-seater Mitsubishi L 300 Bus, computer equipment,
and manuals for training of teachers. Speaking earlier,
she used the opportunity to recap the efforts so far
made by AHI towards the actualization of this noble
idea to include training of 400 teachers for the Junior
Secondary Schools in Lagos State and production of the
manual for the training of teachers.
She thereafter, made the following
proposals to the Lagos State Ministry of Education:
- Curriculum Design:
A stand alone Certificate Course in Sexuality Education
in tertiary institutions such as Colleges of Education,
Polytechnics and Universities awarding either a Diploma
or Degree as the case maybe.
- Self-financing by Government:
Availability on cash and carry basis for
sustainability.
- Provision of Appropriate
Incentives to Teachers: This can be achieved
through promotion and according appropriate recognition
to the teachers, as this would serve as a motivation
to them.
- Development of a Work plan
for Pre-service training and the allocation of resources
for the implementation of the project.
On her part, she said that AHI will
provide technical assistance through:
- Partnership with Lagos state Ministry
of Education towards the entrenchment of Sexuality
Education in the school curriculum.
- Helping in the Curriculum process.
- Making materials available for
teachers' training.
- Providing Guidelines and helping
to lay the foundation for the project's take-off.
- Methodology of teaching.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of
the Ministry, Mrs. Josephine Osun had heaped encomium
on AHI for doing a lot in the direction of sexuality
education in Lagos State. She highlighted some of these
efforts to include training teachers of Sexuality Education
for Lagos state, and arranging a visit of the Ministry's
top officials to South Africa. She informed the stakeholders
of the objectives of the meeting to include drawing
up a work plan for the introduction of Sexuality Education
in tertiary institutions in Lagos state, and fashioning
out the modalities for the take-off of the programme.
In his presentation, Professor K.
A. Adegoke of the University of Lagos who is also a
consultant to AHI congratulated Lagos state for being
the first supporter of this noble project. He informed
stakeholders of the National Council on Education's
support for the Sexuality Education framework and listed
six (6) key areas to be looked at. These are:
- Policy Formulation:
For the Sexuality Education programme to be entrenched
in the curriculum of tertiary institutions, the Lagos
State Government has to formally declare her acceptance
of the project and direct same to the schools concerned.
Furthermore, that the Ministry of Education should
play a key role by appointing a coordinator who will
monitor and see to the implementation of the programme.
- Extension
to Tertiary Institutions: He said this could
be done in two ways; by setting-up a special committee
to be domiciled in the office of the Honourable Commissioner
with a coordinator as the Chairman. This would make
for proper monitoring and supervision or by constituting
a special Committee to be domiciled in the Faculty
or Department of the Institution. Their term of reference
should include:
- Preparing academic briefs or proposals.
- Improving the workload or programme.
- Making it a core course instead of an elective one.
- Continuous training of the trainers.He said that
being a new programme emphasis should be placed on
the Biology and Population Studies teachers since
they are people who can be easily trained because
of their relevance and background.
- Fashioning out a reward system for the trainers
to act as a motivation or added incentive to the teachers.
- Allocation of a special budget ie, (Financial support
system) for the institutions - a case of giving out
an assignment and the tools to execute it with.
- Monitoring
and Further Improvement of the Curriculum:
This according to him would keep the goals of the
project intact and cost effective.
- Evaluation
/ Quality Control: Through the monitoring
process, proper evaluation of the success of the project
can be measured and areas that need amplification
can be detected while still remaining focused on the
objective of providing qualitative education to the
students.
- Institutionalization
of Sexuality Education: He said that making
it a core course would give room for continuity and
wouldn't be relegated to the background by new or
in-coming Administrations. He stressed the need for
the programme to be domiciled in a relevant unit in
the office of the Vice Chancellor as this would show
the seriousness the State Government attaches to the
programme.
Finally, for the programme to enjoy
a measure of sustainability, a systematic support system
should be put in place. He enumerated these to include:
- Recognition of these teachers for
appointments.
- Further training of those who have
been trained already eg, the B.A, B.SC and P.H.D holders.
- Sexuality Education to have a special
vote (budget allocation).
- A special reward system (promotion).
At this juncture, the Honourable Commissioner
for Education, Dr. Olakunle Lawal echoed the resolve
of Lagos State Government to pursue this project rigorously
stating that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and STDs is
a source of concern for the government. To set the ball
rolling:
- The Commissioner directed the Permanent
Secretary to call for a policy meeting of heads or
representatives of tertiary institutions within the
next one and half months to educate them on the importance
of this programmes and to let them know that it affects
our collective future.
- He appealed to AHI to convene another
meeting with the Permanent Secretary and other stakeholders
and directed Mrs. Elesho to provide Logistic support
for the meeting and to undertake study visits to schools
to motivate them and enlighten them on the importance
of this project.
- He said that the Ministry is ready
to review its budgetary priorities to accommodate
this programme, that is, to carry out its financial
obligation to the programme.
- That Sexuality Education has to
be an examinable course/subject incorporated into
GNS, that is, if you don't pass it, you don't graduate.
- That the Lagos State Government
is partnering with AHI to introduce at different levels
of implementation, Courses on Sexuality Education.
- That with proper aggression and
purposefulness on the part of both parties (Lagos
State Government/AHI), the goals and objectives of
this project would be realized.
This epoch making meeting was attended
by top Ministry of Education officials, representatives
of College of Education, Lagos State Polytechnic and
a delegation from AHI.
Related resources
Factsheet
on the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Young
People in Nigeria
Meeting the
Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Young People
in Nigeria
Links to other websites
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