FIJI is the first Pacific Islands Forum country to begin incorporating Family Life Education (FLE) or sexual and reproductive health into its national secondary school curriculum.
The United National Population Fund representative and Director Country Technical Services Team (CST) Najib Assifi applauded the Education Ministry "for serving as a role model for other Pacific Island Countries".
Mr Assifi said FLE would be made a compulsory subject from Class Three to Form Seven in schools.
This, he said, was consistent with a recommendation at the Forum Education Ministers Meeting in Nadi last year that the issue of sexuality education be introduced.
The ministers requested the Forum Secretariat to collaborate with UNFPA and other partners to support curriculum development on sexual and reproductive health to address the issues of Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV and AIDS and teenage pregnancy.
"Fiji is the first country in the region under the regional Adolescent Health Development (AHD) Project to move along this path," said Mr Assifi. "The current schools curriculum revision started in 2006 and we hope will be completed by early next year." FLE emphasises family life and relationships, for example, preparation for marriage, household finances, parenting skills and life planning.
It may also cover population growth, personal health and nutrition, self-esteem and gender roles.
The AHD project is jointly supported by UNFPA, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). UNFPA was also able to secure funds through the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the development of this curriculum.
"Family life education should begin at home and continue through open and honest communication between parents and children.
"While parents are and ought to be their children's primary educators on matters related to growing up, puberty and sexuality, they often need help and encouragement," said Mr Assifi.
He said faith-based organisations, community-based organisations and schools could play a vital role.
"It is great that Fiji is moving ahead in trying to help young people by providing them with correct information about their health and development and in empowering them so that they might make informed choices," said Mr Assifi.