Towards Sex Education

Sex education seeks to find out what youth know The idea of HIV/AIDS and sexuality education has been highly recommended as an effective approach towards encouraging positive sexual behaviour among the youth. Sex education among young people in Swaziland is based on the fact that the youth have access to a lot of information on HIV, sex and sexuality through various media, and are engaged in communication on HIV/AIDS and related issues. Sex education therefore seeks to find out what the youth already know, adding to this and correcting any misinformation. It is also about providing information on the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty and sexual reproduction. (Sex Education Forum, UK).

It is against this background that communication on; sexuality, HIV and AIDS issues should start at family level as part of basic family upbringing. This must be complemented by the; school system, the church and other community forums, as these are the primary and secondary socialisation units which shape the attitudes and values of children as they mature. Sexuality education whether conducted informally through dialogue with parents at family level, or formally through the education system, will provide children with accurate information that will help them make sound and informed decisions regarding their sexuality and sexual relations. Therefore, as Swazis in the light of the HIV/AIDS crisis, we need to make sexuality education an integral part of our society and upbringing.

A major concern that has been raised often is that sexuality education among children is likely to lead to promiscuity and early involvement in sexual activities. On the contrary studies indicate that sex education, if started at childhood does not only lead to delayed sexual activities, it also leads to young people adopting safer sex practices. Sex education encourages the youth to delay sexual activity. It is more effective when given before children become sexually active; when emphasizes is on skills rather than knowledge alone.

Another concern around sex education is that it is unSwazi. It is often said that the Swazi culture does not encourage communication on sexuality issues between children and their elders.

To me this raises the question, ‘what is culture?’

culture is complex

A classic definition of culture is, "that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, customs and habits... every thing which is socially learnt and shared by members of a society. The individual receives culture as part of his social heritage, and, in turn, he may reshape the culture and introduce changes which then become a part of the heritage..." (Paul B. Horton and Chester L. Hunt).

Evidently, culture is prone to change to suit the changing situations in a society. Swaziland is at a stage where the HIV/AIDS has reached a crisis situation, which demands cultural change in terms of sexual attitudes and habits. We need to review and change our outlook towards sex, to reshape our culture to accommodate the current HIV/AIDS situation, which has reached crisis level.

Horton and Hunt further explain that all cultures are constantly changing and that no society succeeds at exactly copying and transmitting the culture of its ancestors. To me this means we as the Swazi society need to make adjustments in our culture that will help address the HIV/AIDS crisis. It is time to stop treating sex and related issues as taboo, and open channels for communication in the existing structures of socialisation.

Encouraging Responsible Behavior

Bhekithemba GamaAs the 2002 class entered William Pitcher Teachers Training College (WPC) in August they received an orientation unlike their predecessors. This year the weeklong orientation included 4 days of education on HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health. “While education on these topics has been provided for 4 years at WPC during the school term, this is the first year we decided to have HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health Education as the main focus of orientation,” stated Bhekithemba Gama, WPC lecturer and organizer of Orientation Week.

Simamile MasukuRepresentatives from 10 organizations participated in the orientation and provided education on a wide range of topics to the incoming class of nearly 80 students. For Simamile Masuku,a first year student at WPC, the orientation was excellent, informative, and should be given to every student in Swaziland. Seminars on drug and alcohol abuse, HIV/AIDS facts and immunity, pregnancy and family planning, positive living and living with the terminally ill, sexuality and sexual behavior, health club development, life skills development, abuse, and principles in counseling were conducted.

It is through the significant rise in student pregnancies at WPC, particularly among new students that prompted the college to be proactive about educating the students on responsible behavior. To address this issue and the current HIV/AIDS crisis within Swaziland, WPC is taking advantage of activities like orientation to reach and educate its student body on sexual behavior. “It is our hope that by educating students early, upon their arrival to WPC, that we will see positive behavior changes in our students and a reduction in pregnancies and STI cases,” added Gama.

When entering college life at WPC, students experience a new sense of independence and freedom. College life is where individuals are challenged academically by their lecturers and influenced socially by their peers. “It is up to us to take the facts and information provided about HIV/AIDS and to make responsible decisions,” stated Bheki Madlala, first year student at WPC. As new knowledge for some and as a reinforcement of knowledge for others, WPC orientation provided all participants with a forum to discuss openly issues of human sexuality and healthy living.


Read extensively on HIV/AIDS

WPC is just one school that is working with SHAPE to help reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS within the educational sector through the promotion of positive behavior change. You too can make an impact, to find out more about this orientation or how to organize an orientation at your school contact the SHAPE office at 404-5066/4045752. Participating Organizations:

  • SHAPE (Co-host)
  • COSAD
  • SNAP
  • UNISWA
  • FLAS
  • SASO
  • Hospice
  • EGTPS-MOE
  • SWAGAA
  • Psychiatric Center

Tips on How To Be A Better Sex Educator

  • Be in check of your own sexual behavior and attitudes, before you can freely discuss those of the learners.
  • Adopt positive and responsible sexual behavior that the learners can copy, as opposed to the ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ approach.
  • Avoid imposing your individual attitudes and beliefs on HIV/AIDS and sexuality on the learners. These may have a negative influence on sex education.
  • Avoid frightening learners from having sex instead work on their attitudes and enhancing decision-making skills development.
  • Read extensively on HIV/AIDS and the physical and emotional traits of adolescents associated with their puberty and sexual reproduction and validate whatever information you have so as to be better able to address pertinent issues.
  • Cultivate a culture of reading and validating information in learners. Encourage them to get accurate and factual information that will help them in decision -making.
  • Always focus on giving guidance, allowing learners to explore the various options with regards to sex and sexuality, and make their own decisions.