Caring School Communities - Part 2 - Abstinence – a personal choice

Oct 19, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo

PART 2 of Caring School Communities presents youth perspectives on sexuality, emphasizing abstinence as a personal choice grounded in religious beliefs. It addresses how social pressure and the need to fit in can lead to early sexual activity, while highlighting risks such as unwanted pregnancy and HIV/STIs with life-long consequences. The document then shifts to prevention guidance for parents, guardians, and educators, outlining education-centered strategies aligned with the Department of Education’s measures and school programmes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Caring School Communities - Part 2

Abstinence – a personal choice

Prevention: everyone’s first

No one-size-fits-all approach

Life Orientation is at the heart of it

Value of peer education

PART 2 of 6 Caring School Communities ‘Abstinence – a personal choice’ Matric student Stanley Malindi believes being a “real man” is being your own man How do you think your generation sees sex? The general perception youth have is that you have to be sexually active if you want to fit in with the “cool gang”. It increases your status among other boys and girls. It’s about becoming the most talked-about topic on Monday mornings, following a hectic weekend of drinking, partying and getting laid. Your view? Choosing to abstain has been the choice I’ve embraced. I’m motivated to do so by my religious beliefs. I’m also well aware of the many risks linked to sex. There’s unwanted pregnancy, and being exposed to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. These consequences have a ripple effect on the rest of your life, and all because of a moment’s pleasure. What about peer pressure? I’m not afraid of making choices different to those of my peers. I trust myself to make the choices that are right for me. As clichéd as this may sound, I do believe that when I respect myself, others follow suit. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others won’t feel insecure around you. If you bow down to pressures that require you to have to sleep with someone to be seen as a “real man”, then that’sthe kind of man you are – weak. How can there be ‘love’ without sex? The journey is so adventurous, fun and exciting as a couple (although it’s difficult at times!), without feeling pressured to sleep with each other. I find there are many rewards taking it one step at a time. Are you ever going to do ‘it’? Sex is such a special, intimate moment. I don’t want to spoil it by regretting my actions afterwards. So when I’m good and ready is when I’ll explore a sexual lifestyle. For me, being good and ready means I know how to protect myself; I know my HIV status and my partner’s status; and I know where to go for help if I need it. It also means I trust my partner to be as faithful to me as I will be to her. In ThIs Issue: Ways To prevenT unplanned learner pregnancy 􀁺 a prIncIpal shares her school’s sTraTegIes PART 2 of 6 Caring School Preventionevery: one’s first Making sure that unplanned learner pregnancy doesn’t happen in the first place should be the primary aim of their parents or guardians, and of all who educate them. Here are some pointers to help teachers guide learn The national Department of Education (DoE) believes in the ideal that women and men should only become parents when they’re ready for the practical and emotional realities that go with having a child. What’s more, the DoE believes that, as young adults, all learners should be focused on achieving education success, planning for bright futures, and simply enjoying their youth. For these reasons, prevention is the primary strategy outlined in the DoE’s Measures for the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy. The aim is To be 100% safe Abstinence is one of the central pillars of the DoE’s prevention strategy. The message that educators should therefore be giving to all learners is that they should abstain from having sex until they’re finished with their high school education. This should form part of school programmes which educate boys and girls about the likely outcomes of engaging in sexual activity, and also encourages them to: • Attend school every day; • Stay in school; • Practise healthy lifestyles; and • Make appropriate and informed decisions about activities that will impact on their future health and educational prospects . No oNe-size-fiTs-all approach There is no single formula to prevent unplanned learner pregnancy. But there are a number of approaches and strategies that schools can use, many of which are already formal parts of the education system. The challenge is for educators to use their creativity and experience to arrive at an approach that works for them

FAQs

Why does the document encourage abstinence for learners?

It frames abstinence as a central prevention pillar, teaching learners to delay sex until they finish high school and to avoid irreversible regrets. It is also linked to reducing risks such as unwanted pregnancy and HIV/STIs.

What prevention strategy is presented as the primary aim?

Prevention is described as the primary aim so that unplanned learner pregnancy does not happen in the first place. Parents, guardians, and educators are encouraged to guide learners toward education success and informed life choices.

Does the document claim there is a single program that works for everyone?

No. It states there is no one-size-fits-all approach, but schools can use multiple approaches and recommended programmes from the education system, using educator creativity and experience to find what fits their context.

Oct 19, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo