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The Muslim Family Counseling Services (MFCS), in collaboration with UNESCO Ghana, is developing a faith-based, age-appropriate reproductive health education toolkit aimed at promoting healthy learning and moral guidance among schoolchildren across Ghana.
The toolkit will group learners into three age categories, from 5 to 8 years, 9 to 11 years, and 12 to 18 years to ensure that lessons are age-appropriate and sensitive to the developmental stages of children. Topics covered will include body awareness, puberty, emotions, respect, decision-making, and faith ethics.
Speaking in an interview with our reporter during a meeting with religious leaders, opinion leaders, teachers, and students to consult their views on the proposed toolkit, the Director of MFCS, Mr. Mohammed Bun Bida, said the initiative seeks to equip schools with a well-structured educational guide that integrates reproductive health education with principles from various faith traditions in the country.
“We are collaborating with UNESCO Ghana to develop a toolkit for age-appropriate reproductive health education. Today, we are engaging schools, religious leaders, and opinion leaders in a consultation to gather their views on how best we can promote reproductive health education in the country.
“The toolkit is age-appropriate, grouping learners into three age categories, 5 to 8 years, 9 to 11 years, and 12 to 18 years. This ensures that learners are only introduced to topics suitable for their age and level of understanding, avoiding exposure to information that may not be appropriate.” He stated
He further disclosed that once the toolkit is finalized, it will be shared with the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Health Service for proper implementation through a pilot program in selected mission schools in the Ashanti and Bono East regions.
“Once the toolkit is finalized, we will share it with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) for proper implementation. We will first pilot the toolkit in mission schools, since it is a faith-based reproductive health education initiative. After the piloting phase, it will be rolled out nationwide.”
Mr. Bun Bida explained that the project also involves activities for parents, pastors, imams, and community leaders to strengthen the continuity of reproductive health education at the community level.
As outlined in the Implementation Guide, the process will involve establishing an RHE Steering Committee in each participating school, training teachers, adapting the toolkit to local contexts, and monitoring its application to ensure quality delivery.
Mr. Mohammed Bun Bida explained that the next phase of the project will focus on finalizing and piloting the toolkit with UNESCO’s support, after which it will be rolled out nationwide to strengthen reproductive health education through faith-based principle.
“As part of the design, we have also included activities for parents, pastors, imams, and community leaders to help sustain reproductive health education at the community level.
“The next phase of the project is to finalize the toolkit and, with the support of UNESCO, begin piloting. Once the pilot phase is complete, the toolkit will be rolled out for nationwide implementation.” He disclosed.
The Bono East Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Musah Abdulia, praised the initiative, describing it as timely and essential for providing moral guidance to the youth. On behalf of the religious leaders, he pledged to relay the messages to the masses during worship in mosques and churches.
“Today’s program is very good because if we don’t put the right measures in place, our children may go astray. As parents, pastors, and imams, we have a responsibility to educate our young ones about reproductive health, but we must also ensure that the topics we introduce are appropriate for their age. That is why this initiative is so important.
“We promise to share what we have learned here today in our various mosques and churches to help bring everyone on board.” He said.
A teacher from St. Paul’s R/C Junior High School, Madam Vivian, on her part also praised the initiative, describing it as one of the best programs she has participated in so far. According to her, the toolkit has the potential to significantly improve the teaching and understanding of reproductive health and sexuality education in schools.
“This program is one of the best I have attended so far, and I strongly believe it will help improve and enhance the teaching of reproductive health and sexuality education in our schools.
“I would like to kindly appeal that, now that this initiative has begun, it should be continued so that our learners can gain a deeper understanding of sexual and reproductive health education” She told our reporter.
Source: Ghanaweb.mobi
