The Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Selina Kuruleca signed the Implementing Partner Agreement between the Ministry of Education and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The Director, Pacific Sub-Regional Office, Mr Iori Kato represented UNFPA.
UNFPA is committed to implementing internationally aligned Family Life Education (FLE) to young people and students in the Pacific region as one of the key strategies in empowering young people.
“The UNFPA and Ministry in this programme will strengthen the on-going Family Life Education (FLE) programme in our schools and ensure that the FLE Curriculum is revised and aligned to international standards. The purpose of this Agreement is to enable both Parties to join forces and work together to support the rollout of the current FLE curriculum,” stated Ms Kuruleca.
The Permanent Secretary emphasised that the programme will ensure that our children develop knowledge, skills, attitude and values that are critical to making healthy decisions and lifestyle choices.
The Ministry believes in the implementation of the Multi Country programme (2023-27) for the Pacific Island Countries and Territories that directly contributes to Fiji Country Implementation Plan of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-27). This approach specifically contributes to SDG 3 on Health and Well-being, SDG 4 on Quality Education and SDG 5 on Gender Equality.
Ms Kuruleca stressed that Family Life Education will include opportunities for students to learn and practice skills such as communication, negotiation, critical thinking and decision-making that are all essential to successfully achieving intended education outcomes.
The FLE project will enable schools to address social challenges facing young children in Fiji today, including bullying, gender equality, respect, tolerance, and staying in school, leading a healthy and active lifestyle so improving mental and physical wellbeing.
UNFPA has supported at least seven (7) other Pacific countries (Samoa, Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Solomon Islands) on the same project from 2018 to either develop and rollout a new FLE curriculum or strengthen the existing curriculum for the primary and secondary levels.
