The Department of Basic Education’s Draft National Policy on HIV, STIs and TB came under close scrutiny during the 7th SA AIDS Conference held at the Durban International Convention Centre.
The conference took place from 09 to 12 June 2015. The DBE hosted a satellite session at the conference on 10 June 2015, looking at the role of the DBE in HIV prevention, with a focus on girls in schools. The satellite session was preceded by a day-long pre-conference meeting on 08 June 2015, looking at strengthening HIV and sexuality education in the curriculum.
The satellite session was an opportunity to explore the Department’s policy and programmatic response to HIV, including the new HIV and TB policy and its implications for sexual and reproductive health education and services. The session also looked at opportunities and challenges in HIV prevention in a school setting and how the Department is using these as a foundation to refocus, reflect and renew its HIV prevention mandate.
Dr Faith Kumalo, Chief Director of the Care and Support in Schools Chief Directorate, presented the new draft policy to participants, highlighting that it is the first time any country has developed a policy which focuses on both HIV and TB in the education sector.
“Research shows that the average age of sexual debut in South Africa is currently 14 years old, and has been declining. We need to start having the conversation around sexuality before adolescents start having sex” said Dr Kumalo.
“The high levels of STI infection rates also indicate that learners are having unsafe sex at a young age, so through this policy we are aiming for increased knowledge, cognitive skills and life skills on HIV and TB in particular.”
The new policy is aimed at improving coordination and mainstreaming of the sector’s response, to make it the business of every manager and official in the system. The DBE wants to protect its human capital and to improve the retention of learners, educators, school support staff and officials in a safe and protective education environment to improve system efficiency, quality and output.
Delegates also heard about the DBE’s efforts to keep girls in school through a new, cutting-edge combined prevention package of services. Research has shown that staying in schools is protective. Preventing new HIV infections in adolescent girls has been identified as a critical factor in turning the tide on new HIV infections in South Africa and globally.
Ms Megan Cockerill, manager of the Keeping Girls in School Programme, explained that the programme is targeting 40 000 Grade 7-9 girl learners and provides academic, emotional and social support to ensure that they stay in school until Grade 12.
The programme targets girls and bolsters current departmental programmes. It includes tutoring, home visits, career guidance, peer education and health education. The Keeping Girls in Schools Programme currently services 286 schools in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.
The policy, which focuses on learners, educators and support officials, is still open for public comment until 19 June 2015. Visit /documents/national-education-policy-act-department-basic-education-national-policy-hiv-stis-and-tb to view the policy. Written comments and input must be submitted to drafthivpolicy@dbe.gov.za.
