Educately: A program to teach teachers about sexual health

When Tejwinder Anand was in high school in the mid-’90s, his teachers glossed over the topic of human reproduction.

For the school, it was an embarrassing topic, which they could avoid because it did not carry a lot of marks. So, Tejwinder did not have a clear picture of the subject. Whatever knowledge he acquired, he did outside school.

Adolescents still have many questions unanswered

Three decades later, the subject of sex remains taboo for many teachers in the country. Adolescents still have many questions unanswered — for instance, the changes they undergo during puberty. Unlike 30 years ago, the digital age has made many options available to quench their curiosity. But there is a lot of misinformation, too and they do not know what or who to trust.

Educately: A platform for authentic information

“There is a need for authentic, trusted sources of information. We need to train teachers to guide the students concerning topics like sexual and reproductive health,” says Tejwinder, who is the lead for Technology and Communications at the Population Foundation of India (an NGO), whose online platform Educately offers teacher-training courses in adolescent health and well-being.

Connecting with adolescents and their support network

Educately, launched in 2020, aims to connect with adolescents and their support network, including parents, educators, community members, and policymakers. They offer free resources covering various aspects of adolescent well-being, including reproductive and sexual health, mental wellness, and building healthy relationships.

ARSH For You teacher training course

Their primary offering is the ARSH (Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health) For You teacher training course, which introduces teachers to the basic principles that impact adolescent health and well-being. These comprise discussions on growth and changes in the human body, factors that impact identity, such as sex, gender and sexuality, relationships, and conception and contraception.

Accessible and flexible learning

“It’s a small module and it is free. Teachers can do it at their own pace. We designed it this way because teachers already have a lot of schoolwork. So, they might find it a little too much to do an extra course,” says Tejwinder.

Expanding reach and impact

So far, over 13,000 teachers have signed up for the courses available in English and Hindi. “So far, most of the teachers signed up on the platform are from Bihar, Jharkhand, and Manipur. We plan to add more regional languages to invite teachers from other parts of the country as well,” adds Tejwinder.

Not just for Biology teachers

The courses, he says, are not just for Biology teachers. “When we went through the educational curricula, we found that adolescent health and well-being is scattered across subjects like social studies, general science, and more. So, any educator can sign up for the course.”

Beneficial impact on students

Sathish Kumar, who works at a private school in Erode, says the course has been beneficial to him in talking to his adolescent students. “Recently, there was a news report about contraceptives and condoms found in a schoolkid’s bag in Karnataka. Kids are exposed to a lot of things these days. And a teacher needs to understand them and talk to guide them properly. The ARSH course helps in this regard,” he says.

Offline program for educators

Educately has also piloted an offline program to train educators at school.

Conclusion

Educately’s teacher-training courses in adolescent health and well-being, particularly the ARSH For You course, aim to provide authentic and trusted information to teachers and empower them to guide students on topics like sexual and reproductive health. With over 13,000 teachers already enrolled, the platform is making a significant impact in Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, and plans to expand its reach to other parts of the country. By addressing the taboo surrounding sex education and offering accessible and flexible learning options, Educately is contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality

The article discusses the need for authentic and trusted sources of information to address the knowledge gap in sexual and reproductive health among adolescents. It also emphasizes the importance of training teachers to guide students on these topics. These issues align with the goals of SDG 3, which focuses on promoting good health and well-being, SDG 4, which aims to provide quality education, and SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
• Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
• Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.

The article highlights the importance of providing access to accurate information and education on sexual and reproductive health. This aligns with Target 3.7 of SDG 3. Additionally, the training courses offered by Educately aim to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills to address adolescent health and well-being, which aligns with Target 4.7 of SDG 4. Lastly, the emphasis on reproductive health and rights connects to Target 5.6 of SDG 5.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods
• Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
• Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but the identified targets can be measured using the indicators mentioned above. These indicators provide a quantitative way to assess progress towards ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, integrating sustainable development education into national policies and curricula, and promoting women’s decision-making autonomy in sexual and reproductive health.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: thehindu.com

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