The reproductive health course was introduced in the new school curricula of 2016 as a move to increase awareness among primary and secondary students. Rwanda Education Board says that despite the fact that it was introduced in secondary and primary school curricula, teachers have to bring students on discourse of the reproductive health in any course.
The move came into action after realizing the great number of students engaging in premature sex intercourse leading to various consequences including premature pregnancies, contacting sexually transmitted diseases and school drop outs.
Recently at the beginning of the civic education for secondary school out going students, 96 girls were found to be pregnant and sent back home.
The director of Rwanda Education Board (REB), Janvier Gasana has requested teachers to teach students on reproductive health in every course. He made the call yesterday during a training of school heads on how to embed reproductive health courses. The move is meant to up-bring children that are not perverts and counteract consequences that would arise from sexual relations.
“We request every teacher to include a unit of reproductive health in whatever course he/she teaches to seek how to grow better students,” said Gasana.
He said that it is ridiculous for a school-going child to get pregnant. School heads have revealed that they are going to try their best to work with parents who shy away from talking to their children about reproductive health.
“In Rwandan culture, it is not easy to educate children about reproductive health but we have been acquainted with how to approach a child to the extent that she can reveal the problem she has as well as temptations leading to sex. Provided background can help to know where to start from giving advice, “said the head Groupe Scolaire, Rwanyanza ,Twahirwa Ildephonse.
The deputy headmaster, Groupe Scolaire Ndera Catholique, Mugirasoni Antoinette said that they will teach students about their reproductive health enabling them to take informed decisions for the good of their future.
The representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Rwanda, Jozef Maerien has lauded Rwanda’s leadership for the program of strengthening reproductive health awareness among students adding that they will keep collaboration for effective implementation of the program.
It is expected that children will be taught about reproductive health according to their level of study.
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