Student Voices in the Implementation of Health and Lifeskills Policy in Zimbabwe Teacher Training Colleges

The study sought to assess the extent to which the Health and Lifeskills Policy is being implemented in Teacher Training Colleges in Zimbabwe to strengthen the sexual reproductive health rights of college students. The Policy was developed to protect the rights of students to access health services. The multiple case study conducted among 3rd year students from 7 Primary and 2 Secondary School Teacher Training Colleges from 2012 to 2014, revealed lack of compliance with policy provisions which undermined the rights of the students to provision of health services. Students’ lack of awareness to the policy provisions enshrined in the Policy, like the right of students to access information on health services, voluntary confidential HIV counseling and testing, access to treatment, condom provision, antiretroviral therapy and family planning, made it difficult for students to have a voice to demand for their rights. Hence students’ health was negatively affected resulting in unprotected sex, sexual abuse and acquiring sexually transmitted infections including HIV and AIDS. Effective Health and Lifeskills Policy implementation is essential to prevent negative social behavior.