Comprehensive Sexuality Education

1. Context and background

Despite numerous conflicts and crises since its independence in 1960, the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) has made notable improvements in achieving universal access to education and improving its health services. However, significant challenges persist. With over 47% of its population under the age of 18, the Republic of the Congo continues to face considerable challenges in terms of access to basic reproductive health care, a high fertility rate, early and unintended pregnancies, sexual violence, and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

In 2002, the National Action Plan Education for All established the intention to develop learner-centered curricula that incorporate new concepts such as population education, education for family life, hygiene, health and the environment, and education for peace and citizenship. Moreover, the National Strategic Framework for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS/STI in the Republic of the Congo (2003-2007) reinforced the idea of integrating HIV andAIDS into primary and secondary school curricula. In 2007, the primary and secondary curriculum for the prevention of HIV and STIs was introduced.

A forum on comprehensive sexuality education and sexual health of adolescents and youth was organized in Brazzaville in 2015. The forum aimed, among other things, to promote among multisectoral actors the appropriation and implementation of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) based on gender-based rights both in and out of school. It also called on young people to aim for zero sexual risk and to develop HIV risk management skills. It aimed to develop sexuality education programmes to allow young people to enjoy a high level of autonomy to make informed and responsible decisions about their sexuality.

2. Terminology

The Republic of the Congo does not use the term CSE in its policies, laws or strategies; instead, CSE-related topics are addressed through the term HIV and STI Education. The Standards and Procedures in Reproductive Health define reproductive health of adolescents and young people as ‘a state of general and dynamic physical, mental and social well-being of adolescents and young people for all that concerns the genital system, its functions, its functioning and not only the absence of disease or infirmity’.

3. Laws and policies

3.1. Relevant international/regional agreements to which the country is a signatory

INTERNATIONAL
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Ratification date: 1982	Acknowledges the need to guarantee sexuality education free from discrimination and stereotypes, conveying gender equality values.
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Ratification date: 1993	Commits to the right to access appropriate health-related information.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Ratification date: 2014	Commits to the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Ratification date: 1983	Acknowledges that the right to sexual and reproductive health is an integral part of the right to health.
UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education Ratification date: 1968	Reaffirms that education is a human right. It highlights states' obligations to ensure free and compulsory education, bans any form of discrimination and promotes equality of educational opportunity.
The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action	Calls for sexuality education, counselling, and support mechanisms for adolescents, and identifies essential topics.
Regional
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child	Commits to protect every child from all forms of economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development.
African Youth Charter (ratified)	Provides a strategic framework and direction for youth empowerment and development activities at continental, regional and national levels across Africa.
Maputo Protocol (ratified)	Protects African women's rights.

3.2. Relevant national laws and policies mandating comprehensive sexuality education

Several national legislative frameworks and policy measures related to CSE have been drafted over the years. Some of these policies are not directly related to the education sector, but they impact the general CSE framework in the Congo.

In 2002, the Congo National Report by the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Higher Education stated that it was desirable to formalize the integration of educational content relating to the new challenges at the beginning of the 21st century into curricula, in particular those relating to the socio-health and nutrition field, education for the prevention of STIs and HIV, and education on sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

The 2010 Law on Child Protection specified that all children have the right to have access to information on the prevention and treatment of HIV.

The Education Sector Strategy 2015-2025 proposed that the education and health ministries collaborate to develop a school health programme to promote school health, and calls for the development of policies and strategies in the education sector to address HIV and other communicable diseases. In addition, the National Girls' Education Strategy in the Republic of the Congo encourages the development of information, education, and communication campaigns on all forms of gender-based violence, such as sexual harassment and early pregnancy; and emphasizes the importance of educating girls about HIV and STIs, as well as incorporating life-skills training in schools into teacher training programmes.

The National Development Plan 2018-2022 prioritizes the promotion of healthy SRH among adolescents and young people and the use of family planning methods to avoid unintended births. In addition, emphasis will be placed on preventing the use of drugs and alcohol at the elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels of education. It also aims to reduce the prevalence of risky behaviour among adolescents and young adults by half, to improve the health of mothers, children, and adolescents, and to reinforce the prevention of early and unintended pregnancies.

Decree No. 2010 - 686 of 22 October 2010 on the ratification of the African Youth Charter is committed to promoting culturally appropriate education, age-appropriate sexuality, and responsible parenting (art. 12).

The 2022 Standards and Procedures in Reproductive Health intends to contribute to improving SRH among adolescents and young people and to encourage them to adopt responsible behaviour in terms of sexuality and procreation.

3.3. Curricula

Mandatory or optional

Sexuality education is mandatory as it is included in core subjects of the national curricula. In the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Literacy Education curricula, the peace education programme, in its general objective 2 (‘Living in harmony in society’) includes a dimension on the fight against stereotypes and prejudices regarding gender and sexual orientation. The civic education programme, in its general objective 4 (‘Fighting against depravity of morals’), deals with sexual violence. Finally, the moral education programme, in its general objective 2 (‘Understanding the importance of life’) addresses the issue of unprotected sex.

Model of delivery

In 2007, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education issued the Primary HIV and STI Prevention Education Programme and the Secondary HIV and STI Prevention Education Programme. The HIV and STI Prevention School programmes (for primary and secondary education) are intended to be integrated in elementary education across disciplines.

Comprehensiveness of content

The Primary HIV and STI Prevention Education Programme introduces various topics related to reproductive health to be covered in primary education, such as HIV and STIs, methods of contraception, and medical care. Specifically, these are: basic knowledge on sexuality, reproductive health, STIs and HIV to protect oneself and promote sexual and responsible behaviour; ‘Me, my emotions and my relationships with others’; gender, the promotion of human rights and the fight against stigma and discrimination; attitudes, skills and competencies to promote responsible behaviour; the care system; treatment education; participation in the fight against HIV; and population migrations and the impact of HIV on development. The curricula set out general objectives and specific skills to be acquired, which can be introduced into various subjects, such as health education, life and earth sciences, French, geography, art education, physical education, and sports.

The Secondary HIV and STI Prevention Education Programme is introduced in various subjects such as: life and earth sciences; languages; physical and sports education; philosophy; geography; civic, moral and peace education; and mathematics. The curricula include seven themes: basic knowledge of health, reproductive health, STIs and HIV infection; ‘Me, my emotions and my relationships with others’; gender, the promotion of human rights and the fight against stigma and discrimination; attitudes, skills and competencies to promote protective behaviour; participation in the fight against HIV; population, HIV and development; and management and treatment education. For each theme there are specific objectives within the host discipline(s).

Learning resources

The HIV and STI Prevention Education Programme has instructional materials and teaching guides for primary and secondary levels, teacher training, and textbooks for pre-school students. The Primary Teacher Curriculum Guide for HIV and STI Prevention Education and the Secondary Teacher Curriculum Guide for HIV and STI Prevention Education present detailed information for educators regarding time allocation, material support, teaching strategies and evaluation methods. There are also specific case studies with questions to help students better understand the issues and consequences of certain behaviours related to reproductive health.

3.4. Teachers

In 2008, the pedagogical guide for preventive education on HIV and STIs in teacher training colleges was developed as an in-service programme. However, no evidence was found regarding the formal inclusion or implementation on teachers’ training programmes. The National Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS and STIs 2009-2013 highlights the willingness of the Government to invest more in teacher training.

3.5. Schools

No information was found on school counselling on SRH or the referral mechanism implemented by the schools to health clinics, information about obtaining contraceptives, or access to contraceptives and other contraceptive methods. However, at the strategy level, the Education Sector Strategy 2015-2025 mentions the need to strengthen the school (and universities) health centres and create new centres. It stipulates that violence in schools, especially sexual violence, is not tolerated.

The National Girls’ Education Strategy in the Republic of Congo advocates for free medical visits for girls. Article 16 in the Decree No. 2010 - 686 of 22 October 2010 on the ratification of the African Youth Charter aims to put in place comprehensive programmes for the prevention of STIs and HIV through education, information, communication and awareness-raising, as well as through facilitating access to protective measures and reproductive health services.

In 2016, the association Les Compagnons du Devoir et de l'Action, its partners and the Department of Health decided to rehabilitate a local sexual education centre in a rural part of Djambala province, where teenage girls are very vulnerable. Awareness-raising activities on contraceptive methods are offered in the nine districts of Djambala and the five secondary schools.

4. Governance

4.1 Responsible ministries

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in charge of Literacy is responsible for implementing and including CSE topics in the national curricula. Decree No. 2010-50 of 28 January 2009 on the remit and organization of the General Directorate of Civic Education stipulates that this body must contribute to the fight against STIs and deviant behaviour. It is partnering with the Forum for African Women Educationalists to conduct campaigns on comprehensive sexuality education for young people and adolescents.

Other ministries, such as the Ministry of Health, are closely involved in the strategies against HIV and AIDS. It supports the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) Youth Forum, whose theme in 2020 was ‘Towards a new vision of the response of young people to the problem of HIV in the CEMAC zone’.

The National Development Plan 2018-22 stipulates that the Ministry for the Advancement of Women and the Integration of Women in Development plans to implement a sub-sector for the advancement of women in the period 2018-2022, to be responsible for achieving gender equality and contributing to the fight against sexual and gender-based violence through education.