THE Sexual Rights Centre (SRC) has identified schools as the frontline for equipping young people with accurate, age‑appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), calling for the development of a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum through collaboration between the ministries of Education and Health, parents and development partners.
The observation stems from a four‑year programme, My Body, My Future (MBMF), implemented by a consortium comprising Plan International, the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe (NCDPZ), the Sexual Rights Centre and Intwasa Arts Festival.
The programme targets children, adolescents and youth (CAY) aged 10 to 24.
MBMF focuses on empowering young people to make informed, responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and rights in a safe, supportive environment.
In an interview during a community mobilisers’ engagement at M&M Events on Wednesday, SRC executive director Mojalifa Ndlovu told Southern Eye that one of the major challenges encountered was gaining access to schools because the education system does not currently have a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum.
“One of the challenges was access or entry into schools because our education system does not have a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum at the moment, yet some of the thematic areas we feel are important are critical for young people,” Ndlovu said.
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He noted that the absence of a comprehensive framework limited discussions on key SRHR issues not covered in the current curriculum.
“It is very limited in terms of SRHR. For example, you cannot talk about safer sex explicitly; you end up going round and round, shying away from the subject,” he said.
Unicef’s recent health reports highlight the urgent need for strengthened education and services: about 22% to 23% of Zimbabwean girls aged 15–19 have begun childbearing.
The adolescent HIV situation also remains a serious concern.
Although Zimbabwe has made progress in the national HIV response, adolescents and young people aged 15–24 account for roughly one‑third of all new HIV infections.
Sexually transmitted infections are also prevalent among young people.
National surveys have historically shown that a notable share of sexually active youth report STI symptoms or diagnoses, reflecting persistent gaps in prevention and education, as presented by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Ndlovu said SRC wants to work with relevant stakeholders to address the gap in school‑based sexuality education.
“So we would want to work with the ministries of Education and Health and Child Care, as well as parents and other partners, to develop a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum that will allow children in schools to have full knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights,” he said.
Currently, Zimbabwe’s education system addresses sexual and reproductive health mainly through Guidance and Counselling subjects, focusing on life skills, HIV and Aids, and basic SRH concepts, supported by the Zimbabwe School Health Policy for a holistic approach.
However, the system faces challenges including limited teacher training, infrequent lesson time, shortages of materials, and socio‑cultural taboos.
Efforts are ongoing through Comprehensive Sexuality Education programmes targeting both in‑school and out‑of‑school youth, aimed at empowering young people despite persistent implementation hurdles.