Regional Module For Teacher Training on Comprehensive Sexuality Education for East and Southern Africa

This training module was developed as a resource to support the training of teachers in East and Southern Africa to deliver school–based sexuality education. Designed for trainers who are delivering pre–service training on sexuality education in the region, the material provides a core set of lesson plans to equip teachers with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to deliver effective sexuality education in the classroom. However, as explained in the publication, “[W]hile the material is focused on training teachers for school-based sexuality education, the material can be adapted to out-of-school environments. Further, given the importance of local realities within which sexuality education is being delivered, trainers are encouraged to further adapt the lessons to their particular country contexts where possible. Examples of such opportunities for adaptation are noted within the material.”

As explained in the module, “[t]he primary goal of sexuality education is to equip children and young people with the knowledge and skills to make responsible choices about their sexual and reproductive health - an urgent responsibility within the region where HIV prevalence among young people remains very high and where ignorance and misinformation can be life–threatening.” “School settings provide an important opportunity to reach large numbers of young people with sexuality education before they become sexually active, as well as offering an appropriate structure within which to do so. Equipping teachers with the knowledge, skills and comfort level for effectively delivering sexuality education is critical to leverage such opportunity. Preparing teachers to deliver sexuality education will help ensure that learners receive accurate and age-appropriate information that will help guide them through adolescence and enable them to make responsible decisions that impact their current and future sexual and reproductive health and overall well–being."

The nine core sessions in the module are as follows:

1. Introductions and Launch of the Training
2. Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in East and Southern Africa
3. Talking About Sexuality Education
4. Getting Ready to Teach Sexuality Education
5. Effective Teaching Methodologies for Sexuality Education
6. Knowing Your Content
7. Classroom Management
8. Application, Practice and Resources
9. Understanding Human Rights Agreements, Legal, and Professional ethics

Each session includes one or more activities, and each activity section offers information on learning objectives, total time required, materials and resources needed, and instructions.

In addition, a set of 14 scripted lesson plans are also available to support school-based delivery of CSE in East and Southern Africa. The lesson plans include lessons for students and learners between the ages of 9-15 and are each 45 minutes long. Some lessons have two parts, requiring two sessions, or 90 minutes total and cover the following topics:

• Anatomy and Physiology Part I and II
• Taking Care of Your Sexual Health
• Supporting People Affected By and Living with HIV or AIDS
•  STIs Part I and II
• Sexual Choices in Relationships
• Puberty Part I and II
• Pregnancy Part I and II
• Navigating Relationships
• Managing Peer Pressure
• Increasing Awareness in Child Marriage
• Healthy Relationships
• Deciding Whether to Have Sex
• Correct and Consistent Condom Use
• Contraception Part I and II

The scripted lesson plans are intended to provide teachers with material often lacking in existing life skills and CSE curricula, which can be used to supplement existing resources and support the delivery of CSE. Topics and age ranges for the lesson plans were identified during the Regional Consultative Meeting to Support the Development of Sexuality Education Lesson Plans, hosted in South Africa by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and facilitated by Advocates for Youth. A peer review advisory board consisting of 21 members from the region subsequently informed  the development of the lesson plans, which were pre-tested through a regional teacher training for comprehensive sexuality education and in schools in Namibia and Lesotho.

The resources were produced by Advocates for Youth, UNFPA, and UNESCO.