Health Ministry proposes teaching condom use in school curriculum

• The National Institute of Education (NIE) is set to incorporate HIV/STI prevention measures into the Grade 10 Science textbook
• Alarmingly, 4.6% of students admitted to having engaged in sexual relationships, underscoring the need for timely education
• Only 63% of students reported having heard of HIV or AIDS—a sharp drop from 77% in 2016

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

The Ministry of Health’s National STD/AIDS Control Programme has recommended the integration of HIV/STI prevention measures, including condom use, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis into Sri Lanka’s school curriculum. This issue was highlighted in the National AIDS committee meeting held on July 25. As such, the National Institute of Education (NIE) is set to incorporate HIV/STI prevention measures into the Grade 10 Science textbook. The move aims to provide age-appropriate, evidence-based knowledge to schoolchildren, filling existing gaps in the current syllabus.  Speaking on the matter, Consultant Venereologist Dr Vino Dharmakulasinghe told Daily Mirror that at present, the Science and Health & Physical Education textbooks only mention that HIV can be prevented through “responsible sexual behaviour,” without elaborating on specific biomedical prevention methods.

“A recent review by the IEC, Advocacy, and Condom Promotion Committee of the National AIDS Council stressed that this lack of detail leaves students inadequately informed about key prevention strategies,”   

“Findings from the 2024 Global School Health Survey (GSHS) further highlighted the urgency of reform. Only 63% of students reported having heard of HIV or AIDS—a sharp drop from 77% in 2016. Similarly, the number of students taught how to avoid HIV infection in class declined from 67.1% in 2016 to just 44.2% in 2024. Alarmingly, 4.6% of students admitted to having engaged in sexual relationships, underscoring the need for timely education,” she explained.   

“To address these concerns, the Health Promotion Bureau is developing a new Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) package titled Let’s Learn Life, aligned with UNESCO guidelines. Based on a bio-psychosocial model, the program is designed to equip children with age-appropriate knowledge and skills before they encounter behavioral risks. In 2024, 264 school health programs were conducted by STD clinics, reaching over 54,000 students nationwide,” Dr. Dharmakulasinghe stated.   

In addition to curriculum reform, the Ministry of Education will prioritize teacher training also.   

“Teachers and school counsellors are to undergo both pre-service and in-service training on HIV prevention strategies, enabling them to deliver lessons with confidence and consistency,” she added.   

However, the education ministry has yet to respond to the current developments.