Comprehensive Sexuality Education
1. Context and background
The Republic of Palau is comprised of the six island groups that form the westernmost cluster of the Caroline Island chain in the North Pacific Ocean. Although there are over 300 islands, the majority of the population resides in or near the main town of Koror (UNESCO, 2015)
School-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is addressed through the Health Education Curriculum. The Health Education Curriculum framework is dated as 1993 (it was developed between 1988 and 1992) and is implemented at the elementary and secondary education levels, with varying levels of mandatory and optional content, depending on the education level.
2. Terminology
No formal definition was found.
3. Laws and policies
3.1. Relevant international/regional agreements to which the country is a signatory
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INTERNATIONAL |
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Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Signature Date: 2011 |
Acknowledges the need to guarantee sexuality education free from discrimination and stereotypes, conveying gender equality values. |
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Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Ratification Date: 1995 (a) |
Commits to the right to access appropriate health-related information. |
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Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Ratification Date: 2013 |
Commits to the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities. |
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International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Signature Date: 2011 |
Acknowledges that the right to sexual and reproductive health is an integral part of the right to health. |
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UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education Not ratified |
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. |
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3.2. Relevant national laws and policies mandating comprehensive sexuality education
Title 22 of the Palau National Code on Education mandates the establishment of minimum standards for curriculum development and content of courses to ensure uniform levels of achievement. The document also dictates the need to create education programmes, including health education and instruction (art. 111).
The Education Master Plan 2017- 2026 aims to educate the whole child – mind, body and heart, by developing academic and career readiness, character, health, wellness and appreciation of arts). The Plan mentions the need for a curriculum review to ensure that academic content remains relevant. However, it does not mention strengthening any components related to comprehensive sexuality education (CSE).
The Palau National Student Assessment Policy Framework (2018) (PNSAPF) covers the assessment guidelines and standard procedures for all public and private school,. This Framework reinforces the implementation of the 2010 School Handbook and grading system, among others. The 2010 School Handbook (revised in 2019), mentions that the elementary school curriculum consists of five core subjects: Palauan, English, mathematics, science, and social studies. Health, physical education, and career guidance are additional subjects taught once or twice per week in elementary schools. The curriculum at the high school level consists of academic and vocational programmes and includes Palauan studies, English, social studies, science, mathematics, health, and physical education. In addition to the academic courses required at each level, students must enrol in one of five career academies and complete six academic courses. Also, the 2010 School Handbook (as revised in 2019) allows pregnant students to continue attending school during their pregnancy.
The 2005 Palau National Health Policy proposed youth and health strategies to strengthen education awareness and reproductive health strategies, with a focus on measures for HIV treatment, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned adolescent pregnancy.
3.3. Curricula
Mandatory or optional
School-based CSE is addressed through the Health Education Curriculum. Health Education is not mandatory at the elementary level. At the secondary level, Health Education is mandatory for Grade 9 and is optional for grades 10 to 12.
Model of delivery
The Ministry of Education has developed a Health Education Curriculum framework covering grades 1–12. At the elementary-school level (grades 1−8), health is a non-core subject taught once or twice a week. At the high-school level (grades 9−12), health is a required course in Grade 9 only, and then an elective course for grades 10−12.
According to the 2010 School Handbook (revised in 2019), the Republic of Palau public school system offers curriculum and instruction in the five core content areas: Palauan studies, English, mathematics, science and social studies. Additional content areas offered at school include health, physical education, and career guidance.
Comprehensiveness of content
The Ministry of Education’s Health Education Curriculum for public schools addresses topics on HIV and STIs, the human reproductive system, safe sex, and teenage pregnancy. In terms of scoping and sequencing, the knowledge and skills goals include to: list and describe the different parts of the human reproductive system and its functions (Grade 7 and grades 9–12); discuss the responsibilities and consequences of engaging in sexual relationships (Grade 8 and grades 9–12); identify and describe HIV and other STIs and their related illnesses (Grade 8 and grades 9–12); describe the actions and behaviours of someone who knows how to practise safe sex (Grade 8 and grades 9−12). HIV and STIs and safe sex are to be covered in grades 8–12.
Learning resources
According to the 2010 School Handbook (revised in 2019), curriculum frameworks and course outlines guide the planning and delivery of instruction in the classroom.
3.4. Teachers
The Title 22 of the Palau National Code on Education mandates the Ministry of Education to provide training programmes to enable citizens of the Republic of Palau to qualify for certification as teachers. According to the Code, the Ministry of Education is to establish a teacher training programme for all teachers nationally so as to provide for the continuous upgrading of teaching skills of all teachers holding a certificate. According to the 2010 School Handbook (revised in 2019), staff and students are expected to have a respectful and professional relationship. Any sexual relationship between staff and students is strictly prohibited.
No information was found on capacity building for teachers on CSE.
3.5. Schools
According to the 2010 School Handbook (revised in 2019), schools should have full-time counsellors who provide academic, college, career and personal counselling services to students as needed. Additionally, psychosocial counselling services are available through a partnership with the Ministry of Health to address any behavioural, social, mental and psychological issues of students.
Regarding health services, the 2010 School Handbook (revised in 2019), states that as part of a partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Department within the Ministry of Health sends appropriate personnel to visit schools and provide preventative health care to students on a regular basis.
4. Governance
4.1 Responsible ministries
According to Title 22 of the Palau National Code on Education, the Ministry of Education is to provide for: school improvement processes; curriculum development; assessment and reporting of student progress; budget preparation; personnel recruitment and selection; teacher and administrator training and certification, management and administration of all professional personnel functions; and community and vocational development and training.
4.2. Level of responsibility/decentralization and autonomy
No information was found.
4.3. Government budget allocation
No information was found.
5. Monitoring and reporting
According to the 2010 School Handbook (revised in 2019), the five core subjects (maths, science, social studies, English and Palauan Studies), including health and physical education, are graded with both numeric and letter grades in elementary schools (grades 1–8). These grades are factored into the grade point average (GPA) calculation. In high school (grades 9–12), grade computations include all subjects studied.
