Okahao
The Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Katrina Hanse-Himarwa says there is an urgent need to mainstream genuine health education to address learner pregnancies among schoolchildren.
According to Hanse-Himarwa, the high number of female learner dropouts is an indication that meaningful parting of knowledge to young people and the general public has not taken place.
“Perhaps we (education) together with our stakeholders are not addressing the problem properly with our available systems and resources,” said Hanse-Himarwa.
Hanse-Himarwa’s speech was read by her deputy, Anna Nghipondoka, at the Annual National Health and Wellness Awareness Raising Week.
The event is taking place at the Shaanika Nashilongo Secondary School at Okahao in the Omusati Region. The celebration ends on Thursday.
The minister urged all stakeholders in education to be concerned about high learner pregnancy and to reflect on how comprehensive sex education is planned and delivered to learners.
She further urged that life-skills education be strengthened and monitored to ensure there is no room for doubt.
Also speaking at the event, United Nations Coordinator Kiki Gbeho said the event provides an excellent opportunity to share information, knowledge and skills particularly on HIV and AIDS in order to improve individual and organizational capacities to confront the pandemic.
Gbeho said there is an urgent need to raise awareness and inform learners and educators about the potential negative impact of HIV on the growth of the education sector.
However, she noted that winning the war on poverty, getting to zero infections and eliminating mother-to-child transmission is not possible without educating the public on HIV/AIDS education.
“There is an urgent need to raise awareness and inform about the potential negative impact of HIV transmission and its impact on education,” said Gbebo.