Life Skills Based Education in schools; World Population Foundation’s (WPF) flagship program in Pakistan, is a channel to provide information and skills on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights to the young people and add Empowerment in them to adopt safe health‐seeking behaviors and protect themselves from abuse, exploitation, drugs and disease. Purpose of the Evaluation: The main objective of the evaluation was to assess the programme’s performance against its functional objectives i.e. development of a rights-based comprehensive sexuality education program (design); development and implementation of a need-based LSBE curriculum and training manual (implementation); sustainability of the intervention; and contribution towards the integration of LSBE in national secondary schools’ curriculum.
The evaluation involved an extensive analysis of the design and implementation of the LSBE project during the last five years i.e., 2006‐2010. Methodology: For the purpose of evaluation, the program was assessed for its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Five of the 12 program districts were selected through purposive sampling. Field visits were carried out to the five sampled districts, where focus group discussions, in‐depth interviews, and informal group discussions were conducted, while the quantitative findings are based on the pre and post tests carried out with LSBE students. Desk review of the similar initiatives in the country and region further enriched the evaluation team’s understanding of LSBE project and was used during analysis of results.
Young people have the right to lead healthy, productive lives. Yet, access to sexual and reproductive health information and services remains a substantial challenge for millions of youth in Pakistan. Without adequate access to these services, young people lack the knowledge and skills required to make safe decisions. This makes them vulnerable to coercion, unintended pregnancy, unplanned births, unsafe abortion, HIV and other STIs and the morbidities and mortality associated with early childbearing.
Aahung, a Karachi-based sexual and reproductive health non-profit organization, has developed a life skills-based education (LSBE) program for school-going adolescent girls and boys. This intervention provides young people with skills and knowledge related to adolescent reproductive health, such as accurate information about puberty and related changes, marital rights, peer pressure, sexual harassment and body protection, gender inequities, early marriage, nutrition, self-confidence, decision-making, and communication skills.The case study of Aahung’s empowerment of girls through LSBE is a good practise with lessons for low and middle income nations with similar cultural backgrounds.
Life Skills-Based Education (LSBE) – also known as comprehensive sexuality education – equips young people with the skills to make responsible decisions for their health and well-being.Because the system takes a human-rights-based approach, it also promotes gender equality and young people’s sexual reproductive health rights.. Adapted to suit different age groups, cultures and needs of young people, it has shown to reduce risky behaviors, address gender and power issues and delay sexual debut.
UNFPA promotes LSBE across the country, focusing on both in-and out-of-school environments, in conjunction with governments and civil society organisations. Working in a variety of environments – from policy-level advocacy to community outreach, UNFPA works to standardize the programme nation-wide.
