University Student leaders in Uganda oriented on O3 Plus Programme

On 1 June 2022, UNESCO supported Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) in Uganda to organize a national consultative and orientation meeting for university students' leadership of O3 Plus participating Institutions with aims of introducing to them the O3-Plus program and obtaining input into the design and implementation of the program in the various universities.

Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3 Plus) programme aims to ensure that young people in Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (HTEI) realize positive health, education and gender equality outcomes through sustained reductions in new HIV infections, Early and Unintended Pregnancy (EUP) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This is expected to enable young people reach their full educational potential and contribute effectively to the development of their communities as graduates, professionals and young leaders. In Uganda, the O3-Plus program is being piloted in 3 HTEIs, namely, Makerere University main and Jinja campuses, Ndejje University and Kampala International University, Western campus. Over 40 participants mainly student leaders attended the meeting.

The Assistant Commissioner Higher Education Mr. Ochira John who represented the Chief Guest, Director Higher Technical Vocational Education Training (HTVET) Dr. Jane Egau, informed the student learners that through the O3 Program, MoES developed a national framework to guide the implementation of Sexuality Education (SE) in schools in 2018 and implemented partially in lower- levels of primary and secondary education. "We do recognize that young people in higher and tertiary education and training face numerous challenges especially related to SRH, teenage pregnancy, EUP, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and gender-based violence." Dr. Jane Egau remarked.

She added that a study conducted in 2018 in a number of universities by MoES with support from UNESCO, revealed that about 70 percent of students are sexually active and 50 percent of students do not use protection. Twenty-eight (28) percent had acquired STIs in last 12 months of the study. "This is evidence that majority of our students actually lack basic SE by the time they join higher and tertiary institutions of learning." - Dr. Jane Egau Director HTVET Uganda