SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS DRAFT POLICY FOR TEACHERS UNION OF MALAWI Presented at Mpatsa Lodge in Salima on 30 th June, 2011 Presented by Chauluka Muwake TUM President.

Introduction The Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) is a Trade Union Organization for public teachers in the country. Established in 1994, It has a membership of teachers from all districts in the country. This number is from a total of around 60,000 teachers in Malawi. This membership is from the primary, secondary and some tertiary levels of the education sector. Tum frequently interfaces with Govt, whether with or without appointment, on all matters affecting Education in general and teachers in particular

Presentation Outline Summary of needs assessment outcome Vision Policy Mission Policy Policy Objectives Target Groups Strategies and Approaches Conclusion

Summary of Needs Assessment Outcome Knowledge – Teachers do not have adequate knowledge on how to provide education on SRHR. – Teachers had not received formal training on Sexual Reproductive Health and rights. As such this is reflected on the pupils’ lack of knowledge on the same. Skills – Teachers do have necessary skills to address SRHR issues.

Summary of N/A Cont. Attitude – Teachers do not feel that the youth have the right to decide on their personal sex life. – Teachers are not comfortable to teach SRHR. – Teachers feel that Health workers have negative cultural beliefs that deter young people from assessing health services on SRHS. – Teachers felt it was bad to promote condoms for young people.

Summary of N/A Cont. Behaviour – Low participation of girls in life skills classes. – Lack of openness by parents to discuss sexuality with their children. – Teachers felt parents and communities were not comfortable to discuss sexuality issues with their children. Environment – Lack of teaching and learning materials on SRHR issues. – Training curriculum lacks SRHR content. – School curriculum lacks SRHR content although Life Skills is being taught, ofcourse devoid of major SRHR issues. – The N/A was conducted in three districts of Kasungu, Lilongwe and Dedza where the TTCs and few selected primary and secondary schools were targeted. Respondents included Tutors, Teacher Trainees, Primary and secondary school teachers and students.

Vision Teachers towards comprehensive SRHR knowledge and Skills.

Mission Development, establishment and Promotion of teachers SRHR knowledge, skills and attitude through comprehensive interventions in Malawi.

Policy Objectives Increased knowledge in SRHR among 40% of teachers in Malawi by Improved SRHR skills among 70% of tutors in the TTCs by Improved attitude among 60% of teachers in Malawi regarding students decisions on their personal sex life by Increased participation of girls in SRHR education in Malawi by 2016.

Target Group Teacher Trainees in all Public TTCs Tutors in all Public TTCs Parents and Communities through PTAs Teachers in public schools.

Goal To produce well knowledgeable teachers in SRHR issues in Malawi.

Strategies and approaches The Project Department will have the overall responsibility in the implementation of the SRHR activities. Therefore, it shall be responsible for: Monitoring and Policy implementation, Networking with partners involved in SRHR activities. Advocating to government for inclusion of SRHR issues in the curriculum. The project department will provide policy direction on SRHR activities and mobilise resources through round table discussions and proposal development. Develop IEC materials for knowledge dissemination to teachers, teacher trainees and trainers as well as pupils.

Strategies and approaches cont. Diversification of approaches and messages for different groups – TUM will advocate for inclusion of SRHR issues in the curriculum and that concepts should be explained better depending on the ages. Using a positive approaches. – TUM shall promote positive approach which creates interactive environment so that teachers and parents become well equipped when dealing with the youth on SRHR issues. – TUM will as much as possible encourage both teachers and parents to guide the youths through positive approach so that youths are encouraged to take up informed decisions. – Tum shall promote establishment of mother groups and father groups through SMCs who shall work hand in hand with teachers on SRHR issues. SRHR issues would also be incorporated in PTA meeting – Tum shall advocate for establishment and promotion of Youth Clubs on AIDS TOTO and SRHR in all public schools so that youths are empowered to take informed decisions on sexuality matters

Strategies and approaches Cont. Messages used – Realising that TUM target group are majorly adults, TUM shall comprehensively advocate for ABCDEF+ messages. TUM shall ensure that condoms are provided in aborutions of all TTCs, TDCs, and Tutors offices. For instance, TUM distributes condoms to participants of all its workshops and conferences. – TUM through its projects departments frequently interacts with teachers living positively (T’LIPO) and all sensitive issues such as pre marital sex, contraceptives, condom use and masturbation are discussed freely and openly. TUM shall apply this concept to empower all teachers, teacher trainers and trainees as well as parents to eloquently address the SRHR needs of the youths in their communities.

Strategies and approaches Cont. Social Norms. – TUM takes advantage of the introduction of Life Skills which partially deals with social norms. As such we shall discourage teenage marriages while promoting sex education. At the same time TUM shall massively educate all teachers and teacher trainees in various colleges on MPSR which aggressively talks against teacher/pupil relationship.

Counseling services Through Save the children, few teachers country wide were trained on counseling targeting SGBV. Counseling centres have been established in some schools. TUM shall advocate for a mandatory counseling rooms in all primary and secondary schools to deal with SRHR issues apart from SGBV. TUM shall advocate for specific training to all teachers on counseling as part of the curriculum. TUM shall promote interactive and participatory approaches in SRHR lessons such as drama and role play.

HIV work place policy TUM has developed a work place policy which has already been approved by board. We intend to revise it and incorporate SRHR issues.

Monitoring & Evaluation Monitoring and Evaluation of programmes related to SRHR policy shall follow under the Projects Department under the supervision of the Secretary General. The Projects Departments will be responsible for drawing M & E programmes whose results will be communicated to Board through their meetings. TUM shall strengthen co- operation with all network members especially on matters of research which may in turn call for revision of this policy or indeed developing a new policy depending on the emerging issues.

Conclusion Since SRHR are not included in the current teacher training curriculum this policy calls for strong advocancy over inclusion of the same. As such therefore concerted effort by all network members and indeed other NGOs dealing with similar issues shall have to be exerted on government to revise the current curriculum. TUM believes this is not insurmountable.

End of presentation Thank you for your attention ZIKOMO