In Fiji, the current state of sexual education in high schools is failing to provide students with the necessary knowledge to effectively address real-life sexual and reproductive health issues. This critical observation was made by Jessica Work from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) during a panel discussion on World Population Day at the University of the South Pacific.
Work pointed out that the Family Life Education (FLE) part of the school curriculum is not being implemented effectively, leaving students underprepared when they reach higher education. She reflected on her experience as a student, stating, “I went through family life education in high school, and I can tell you I was completely uninformed when I reached university.” Such implications highlight the necessity for a more robust approach to sexual health education, especially considering that more than half of Fiji’s population is under the age of 25.
Work emphasized that the lack of comprehensive information directly influences the youth’s ability to identify and access health services. “Young people don’t know what services are available to them, and they don’t know how to access them,” she mentioned, reinforcing the urgency of this issue for young individuals in Fiji.
These sentiments resonate with prior calls from other advocates like Nalini Singh, the executive director of the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement. Singh has raised alarms over the rising rates of teenage pregnancies, which averaged around 1,000 cases yearly from 2016 to 2019, primarily due to inadequate sexual health education. She has argued for age-appropriate sexual health education in schools, stressing the importance of teaching students about their rights, safe relationships, and consent.
Additionally, concerns about the impact of early sexual activity among youth are mirrored in the ongoing discussions around the pressing need for reforms within the education system, which advocates claim contribute to rising social challenges like teenage pregnancy and violence.
There is hope, however, as stakeholders are increasingly recognizing the need for changes in Fiji’s sexual health education framework. With continued advocacy for comprehensive and meaningful educational initiatives, there is potential for fostering a future generation of informed individuals empowered to make safer and healthier choices regarding their sexual health. As the attention towards these pressing issues grows, it emphasizes the possibility of initiating positive societal change regarding the education and well-being of youth in Fiji.
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