Girls’ Power Initiative Benin in collaboration with the Edo State Ministry of Education carried out a three weeks training programme for Social Studies and Basic Science teachers in the state.

The training which was carried out on Senatorial bases was attended by over 600 teachers from public junior secondary schools in the state.

The training in the Edo South Senatorial District was held at Imaguero College, Benin City on the 14th-17th of April 2009. Edo Central Senatorial district training was held on the 21st – 24th of April 2009 at ACC Irua while the training for the Edo North Senatorial district was held on the 27th – 30th of April, 2009, at Our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi.

The opening ceremony at the various centres were attended by dignitaries from the Ministry of Education.

In her address, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. Mrs Ngozi Osarenren, represented by Mrs Aiyewa, Director, Resource Centre, State University Basic Education Board, noted that seminars and workshop of this nature are important as they consolidate the gains of the new 9-year Basic Education curriculum which will facilitate the attainment of the core elements of National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) aims to attain.

She was pleased that GPI is joining the state government in the process of sensitizing the teachers and congratulated GPI (the organizers of the workshop) for her efforts and contribution towards the progress of education in the state. In her speech, Grace Osakue, who was ably represented by May Ikoghode gave an expose on GPI and all the organization stands for, her aims, objectives, vision, goals, strategy and how Family Life HIV/AIDS Education Curriculum came about, what GPI has done so far on the issue of FLHE, her work with the Ministry of Education which culminated into this training. She revealed that in 2000, GPI worked with NERDC and Federal Ministry of Health to realize a National Curriculum on Sexual Education which in 2002 was amended and adopted to be taught in all schools in Nigeria as Family Life and HIV Education.

In 2005, GPI in collaboration with other NGOs and representatives of relevant line ministries including education, carried out a two year advocacy that culminated in the passing of a resolution by the Edo State House of Assembly that the Ministry of Education should ensure that Family Life and HIV Education is taught in Junior schools in Edo State to reduce their susceptibility to HIV and human trafficking. In 2007, GPI commenced efforts in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, represented by Mrs. Q. Adams, Miss Oziegbe and Mr. Igeleke to train teachers for the implementation of the curriculum. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed and a workshop was held at which the curriculum was reduced to teachable units through the carrier subjects of Integrated Science and Social Studies and the affected schemes of work was printed.

Shortly after, the Ministry of Education was split into Higher and Basic Education. The training was suspended until in 2008 when a new Basic Education Curriculum in basic science (formerly Integrated Science) and Social Studies was released. GPI made input into the new curriculum to include modules of Family Life and HIV Education into Social Studies and Basic Science for JSS 1-3 each and the schemes of work printed out as resource materials for the teachers who participated in the training.

The resource persons who handled the training are Mrs. Elizabeth Enakhimion, Grace Osakue, Ehita Aikpitanyi, Mrs. V. P. Lawal, Tina Osagiobare and Mrs. Elizabeth Okoojion. The training started at 9am each day and ended at 5pm.

The topics covered include. - Family Life/HIVAIDS Education: What It is, Why And Journey So Far - An Overview of the 9-year Basic Education Curriculum - Gender, Society & Culture: Gender/Sex Roles and Discrimination - Sexual & Reproductive Health, Factors that Affect Adolescent Sexual Health - The New Social Studies & Basic Science Curriculum and How To Teach It. - Gender, Society & Culture: Gender, The Media and Religion - Violence Against Girls, Sexual Coercion - Personal Empowerment: Relationships, Communication, Teacher Student Communication - Sexual Reproductive Health: Male and Female Reproductive System, Pubertal Changes & Menstruation - STIs - Self-Esteem, Assertiveness - FGM - Migration and Trafficking - Negotiation & Refusal Skills - Cancer, HIV/AIDS - Values, Clarification, Vision and Goal Setting - Abstinence & Contraception - Decision Making - Sexual & Reproductive Rights - Legal & Policy Developments Affecting Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health.

Each day of the training session, a chair and rapportoir was chosen and among the rapportoure who proved their efficiencies are: - Mrs Salami Edna, Edo Central from Eguare Junior Secondary School Ekpoma - Miss Ikhisemojie O. Gift from ACC Irrua - Mr. Momodu Z. A. – Iviukwi Junior Secondary School Iviukwi, Auchi - Priscillia Udia, GPI Benin - Akhere uzama – GPI benin The Chairs are: - Mr. Braimah A. O. – Our Lady of Fatima, Auchi and - Mr. Erohubi A. A. – Ujogba Junior Secondary School, Ujogba. - Mrs. Erohubie J. E. O. – L.L.G.S., Uromi.

The expectations of the participants at the beginning of the meeting which include: How to teach Family Life and HIV/AIDS curriculum, what method to use in the teaching of the new curriculum, why were Social Studies and Basic Science subjects chosen as carrier subjects; were all met. From the analysis of the pre-test and post test, it was shown that learning took place as most participants who scored as low as 2.5 out of 28 points which is 8% in the pretest did a lot better in the post test.

Lots of group work was also done by the participants at the various centres as group work, role play, brainstorming were among the facilitating methods used during the training exercise. Some of the group work include questions like: - What can the teachers do to reduce sexual coercion? - What can be done by teachers to reduce discrimination in schools - What can be done by teachers to reduce violence against women and girls The group work carried out by all the participants especially in Edo Central Senatorial districts was excellent.

From the evaluation of the training, the participants rated the success of the training to be 90% putting into consideration the following factors: - Tea break - Lunch - Facilitators expertise - Information dissemination - Relevance of knowledge gained - Time management - Topics treated - Materials given - General remuneration of participants At the end of the training at the various centres, certificates were given to the participants.

The training was sponsored by Osfam Novib Netherland. .