Family life and HIV education have transformed students, says Lagos government.

By Oluwafunke Ishola

The Lagos State Government says the integration of Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE) into the state’s educational curriculum has transformed the lives of the students.

The State Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, said this on Tuesday during a high-level dissemination meeting on the short and medium term outcomes of FLHE implementation in Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Action Health Incorporated (AHI).

Alli-Balogun said FLHE had given students the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health issues.

According to him, Lagos localized the national curriculum and incorporated FLHE into its scheme of work in basic sciences, social studies and civic education, among others, so that it could be easily disseminated to students.

“Our commitment to the well-being and holistic development of students extends beyond the walls of the classroom and encompasses the fundamental values ​​of knowledge, compassion and resilience,” he said.

Alli-Balogun, represented by Mrs Omolayo Akinlade, Director, Education Resource Centre, acknowledged the ongoing challenges and complexities inherent in tackling HIV/AIDS and promoting family life education.

He, however, said the state remains steadfast in its commitment to provide comprehensive and age-appropriate education to all students, ensuring that no child is left behind.

Also speaking, Mr Abdourahamane Diallo, Head of Office of UNESCO Nigeria, said FLHE was approved by the National Council for Education (NCE) in 2004.

Diallo said trained teachers had integrated the curriculum content into their career subjects with the support of implementing partners since its adoption.

“We have recently provided support to the Lagos State Ministry of Education through our o3 project over the years.

“The support included capacity building for teachers, data managers, parents, civil society organizations and teacher training institutions,” he said.

He said education for health and well-being (FLHE in Nigeria) measurement frameworks worldwide tend to have an ongoing focus on health outcomes at sexual, behavioral and population levels.

“For example, the number of unintended pregnancies, the incidence of HIV or STDs, dropping out or continuing school, and child marriage.

“There is a growing sense that this narrow focus fails to provide evidence for the wider potential of education for health and wellbeing.

“Such as how, and to what extent, national programs influence outcomes related to students’ social and emotional life skills, or knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and values ​​around gender, and healthy or equitable interpersonal relationships, human rights or healthy sexuality,” he said.

Diallo said that to address these evidence gaps and gain a more holistic understanding of the impact of Education for Health and Wellbeing (EHW), UNESCO inaugurated the Torchlight Collective in 2022.

The project was to conduct a mixed-methods study on the short- and medium-term outcomes of national programs in six countries: Argentina (Buenos Aires), Armenia, Jamaica, Laos, Namibia and Nigeria (Lagos).

Diallo said Lagos was used as a role model for other states for the pilot study as it shows the best-case scenario for Nigeria.

He commended Lagos State for organizing and supporting the implementation of the study in its schools.

According to him, the project focuses on education for life skills, family life, health, sexuality and relationships.

“The study specifically focused on outcomes related to healthy relationships between adolescents and parents, peers and romantic partners.

“In addition, the study also aimed to capture the factors that can contribute to an enabling environment for high-quality EHW,” he said.

He noted that the dissemination of the study’s findings was intended to gain input from local stakeholders and to ensure the requisite ownership of the report and subsequent action on the report’s recommendations.

“This will also prompt action to strengthen the FLHE in Nigeria,” he said.

Mrs. Adenike Essiet, Co-Founder of AHI, also said that AHI has been committed to promoting the health and well-being of young people for over 35 years, and especially to catalyzing opportunities for their access to FLHE.

Essiet said that as the implementing partner for UNESCO’s FLHE program in Lagos, it collaborated with Education District IV to conduct the study in schools in the district.

She noted that the insights and lessons from the study would help inform what needs to be done, speedy implementation and better solutions for youth in the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma