SEX EDUCATION TALKS

Thursday’s call by the Head of CAREC’s Sexually Transmitted Infections Section, Dr. Bilali Camara, for open discussion on sex and sex education in the nation’s schools should be approached by concerned parties with proverbial open minds.

An important element of his call is his declared recognition that it was critical for the Church to be involved in the response to HIV/AIDS. We assume that the CAREC official’s reference to the Church’s being part of the morally uplifting process was made in the ecumenical sense. He amplified his reference to involvement by the Church, emphasising that in the Caribbean, “If you don’t have the Church, you don’t have anybody.” Dr Camara’s statistics on the national, regional and international casualties of the HIV/AIDS epidemic were, although reasonably well known, nonetheless worth repeating. Their being restated was shock therapy — 500,000 persons living in the region affected by the dreaded virus and disease, and 5,000 deaths in this country since 1983 from the disease.

Any talks on open discussion on sex and sex education in schools should take into account not merely the culture of Trinidad and Tobago, but the need to reassure parents, many of whom would be skeptical, if not outright opposed to it, that counsellors in sex education would be carefuly selected, and just as carefully trained. There should be psychological testing of such individuals, and even after they are chosen and trained, a carefully constructed programme designed to monitor their work and influence put in place. What must guide the selection process for the selection and training of the counsellors should be their demonstrated ability to interact with children in a positive and professional manner, and with sensitivity. Where this is feasible, young trained psychologists should also be considered for the programme, vetted by senior experienced psychologists. But for the programme to be fully successful, including the erasing of lingering doubts by some parents, and clear hostility by others, there should be special programmes for parents as well, including open discussions with Parent-Teacher Associations to build trust in their meaningfulness. And, in turn, the ability of the messengers to convey the message, without themselves causing unnecessary harm to young minds.

An unintended negative of any sex education programme will be the approach of some schoolchildren to the lectures expecting salacious talk, pictures and what have you. Hopefully, these will be in the minority, and just as hopefully will be eventual converts. But the struggle to aid children to make the right choices, such as abstinence from sex before and/or outside of marriage is critical if the thinking behind the call for the talks is to be of significance. Too many young people, and not so young adults have been up to now trapped in the “free love” syndrome. It is a situation that is shortsighted and suicidal. To rescue them before it is too late clearly is the thinking behind Dr Camara’s call.