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Contemplating sexual reproductive health education in schools
2006-02-27 09:29:44
By Editor
African cultures and practices prohibit open discussions on sexual and reproductive health. As such, families and to a larger extent, religious organizations think it is shameful to talk about sexual issues in public.
However, gradually thanks to education and sensitization by activists at seminars and workshops, many people are now opening up and are ready to discuss sexual reproductive health needs.
It is no longer a taboo to bring up issues for discussions like adolescence, pregnancy, abortions, sexual partners, STIs, etc.
Various youth organizations are conducting activities which include peer group education, leadership and counselling. Slowly but surely, Tanzanian youths are learning how to become responsible leaders, parents and good citizens.
In the absence of the initiation ceremonies for boys and girls which were once upon a time conducted in the forest, the youth of today have no other such forums except of course schools and peer groups.
Last week, Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children Dr Batilda Burian urged family planning association of Tanzania ( UMATI)to speed up youth awareness programmes on reproductive health, saying this would help avoid unwanted pregnancies.
The deputy minister said that at the tender age of 10 to 24 , youths are supposed to know their reproductive health rights. It will help them understand the dangers of involving themselves in premature sexual relationship.
We would like to add that a knowledgeable youth knows how to protect himself or herself from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/Aids.
Nevertheless, the ’susceptible’ age, during which youths can be taught reproductive health as suggested by the deputy minister, is during the time for primary school education.
In Tanzania, many children are in primary school up to the age of 16 years. Parents, religious institutions and even the law itself uphold that at this age, children are too young to be exposed to matters concerning sexual reproduction.
To stick to this belief however, is to attempt to run away from reality. It means clinging to the traditional values which are detrimental to the well-being of the very children we are seeking to protect.
Dr Batilda says that ’gloomy’ statistics show that 46.8 of school drop-outs are girls and 6.2 per cent of those expelled were pregnant.
Figures may vary. They many not paint a true picture. However, they speak volumes and we can convincingly deduce that today, schoolgirls are vulnerable to pregnancies just as they were in the past.
We think there is a dire need to cast away our traditions and beliefs and give proper sexual and reproductive health education to children.
As such, and in support of deputy minister, we propose the introduction of reproductive health education in primary schools, albeit with objections from some quarters.
Let’s not forget that a mere refusal to grant children access to information, doesn’t mean that they are completely in the dark, as far as sexual matters are concerned.
In fact, many of them already know a lot more than we often wish to believe . We need to make a wise decision in order to teach them how best to conduct themselves.
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