Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – The National Population Council (NPC) has called on all segments of society to support efforts to improve reproductive health education (RHE) for adolescents to promote their well-being and quality of life.
At a stakeholder meeting in Accra on the revised RHE guidelines, the NPC said the review was intended to improve acceptance of the subject by addressing cultural values, taboos and religious concerns.
The meeting formed part of efforts to secure stakeholder support, build consensus and facilitate the integration of RHE into the national curriculum for implementation in pre-tertiary schools.
Madam Angelina Kodua-Nyanor, Acting Executive Director of the NPC, in her statement to open the meeting, said strengthening RHE was essential to helping young people to make informed decisions.
“Reproductive health education is essential to equipping young people with accurate, age-appropriate and culturally relevant knowledge and life skills to make informed decisions,” she said.
She said the revised guidelines required collaboration among stakeholders, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and adequate preparation of facilitators.
Madam Kodua-Nyanor expressed concern about young people’s increasing exposure to inaccurate reproductive health information on social media, stressing the need for appropriate guidance.
“If we do not teach our young people, social media will teach them. Their peers will teach them. And if their peers and social media teach them, what information will they get? Are they going to get the right information?” she asked.
Proposed topics at the primary school level include human growth and development, self-esteem and leadership skills, religion and social values, population and society, assertiveness, gender norms, roles and stereotyping.
At the Junior High School level, the topics include unintended pregnancy, human rights in relation to abuse, communication, and the prevention of common diseases and infections.
The proposed Senior High School topics are gender, mobility and safety, gender-based violence and empowerment, healthy relationships, stigma, care and support, among others.
While earlier consultations proposed introducing RHE at age six, participants at the latest meeting advocated starting at age four to align with the existing national curriculum.
The initial attempt to introduce the subject generated intense media debate, prompting further consultations and a revision of the guidelines.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe