The North West Department of Education has expressed confidence that the launch of the Life Skills HIV and AIDS Programme will strengthen efforts to address key health and social challenges affecting schools across the province.
Funded through a conditional grant in line with the Division of Revenue Act (DORA), the programme aims to ensure that schools are equipped with adequate resources to promote safe, healthy, and supportive environments for teaching and learning.
Chief Director Specialist of the Programme, Poppy Diale, said the initiative is expected to make a meaningful contribution to improving learner performance while fostering inclusive school communities.
“Through targeted life skills education, awareness campaigns, and psychosocial support initiatives, schools are empowered to respond to challenges such as HIV, AIDS, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, and other social issues affecting learners,” Diale explained.
A key focus of the programme is addressing teenage pregnancy, which remains highly prevalent nationally. Diale noted that many affected learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds, with some entering transactional relationships due to poverty, unemployment, or child-headed household circumstances.
She further announced that the department has partnered with the Department of Social Development and law enforcement agencies to investigate learner pregnancies where necessary, in order to address potential underlying issues such as rape and sexual abuse.
The programme will also prioritise health screenings, including tests for HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other conditions. These screenings will be introduced from Grade R to enable early detection of health risks.
Diale concluded by stating that psychosocial support services will be provided to learners and their families whenever needed.
