Officials sign UNFPA deal
FAMILY life education (FLE) in schools across the country will continue after the Ministry for Education penned an Implementing Partner Agreement with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pacific.
The agreement was signed under UNFPA Pacific’s multi-country program (2023-2027) and presided over by permanent secretary for Education, Selina Kuruleca and UNFPA Pacific director, Iori Kato.
Ms Kuruleca said the ministry welcomed this partnership with UNFPA as in-school family life programs provided students with knowledge on various aspects of life.
“The in-school
FLE programs can provide students with opportunities to learn and practise life skills such as communications, relationship, negotiation, critical thinking, decisionmaking, as well as domestic finance, digital literacy, and other dimensions,” she said.
“Family life education is critical for the children in Fiji in developing knowledge, life skills, attitude and values that are critical for them in making sensible and responsible decisions and choices about their physical and mental health and overall lives.
“The ministry, through this program with UNFPA support, will further enhance the ongoing family life education program in school, also by revising the curriculum to be aligned to international standards.”
Mr Kato said life skills that young children in Fiji learned through family life education would help them cope with key issues they might encounter.
This, he said, would also be useful in helping to avoid bullying, violence, psychosocial distress, substance abuse, and unintended pregnancy.
“UNFPA is thrilled with this revamped partnership with the esteemed Education Ministry of Fiji and looks forward to contributing to ministry’s endeavour to support young people in Fiji to navigate their transition from childhood, adolescence to adulthood, to become healthy, responsible and productive citizens,” he said.
The program is expected to be rolled out in Years 4 to 12 across all 736 primary and 176 secondary schools in the country.
Family life education is critical for the children in Fiji in developing knowledge ... – Selina Kuruleca