A student of Sigatoka Andhra Sangam School has questioned the government on why there are no Family Life Education teachers at the Speaker of Parliament’s Debate at Nahigatoka Village Community Hall.
The debate focused on HIV/AIDS.
Jovesa Ratuva said most of the schools have Family Life Education classes and there are no Family Life Education teachers.
He said most of the times teachers of other subjects like Accounting are sent to teach Family Life Education and some of these teachers are not very open minded with the issues the students want to talk about.
While responding to the student, Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete said in regards to teachers there are challenges in some areas.
He said the government is very committed to ensure that the education sector in the country is given the very best it can.
Another panelist at the debate was Fiji Youth Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Alliance representative Tamani Rarama who says we need youth friendly services for HIV response.
Rarama says these youth friendly services need to be community led and messaging needs to be contextualized in different languages.
Rarama says on legislative change there is a whole dimension around that area that needs to be talked about including the decriminalisation of sex work.
Rarama says sex workers are also affected by HIV/AIDS.
Prostitution is illegal under the Crimes Act.
The panelists also included representatives of UNAIDS, Fiji Network for People Living with HIV, and SODELPA parliamentarian Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu.
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