the 07/22/2008

Catholic church tackles condoms in primary schools

In response to HIV/AIDS, and the problem of sexual activity amongchildren the Catholic Church in TT has piloted a Values and VirtuesFormation Programme (VVFP) in 120 Catholic primary schools. It tookplace in April and targeted post-Secondary Entrance Assessmentstudents.

The programme has sparked debate from parents and teachers alike asthe content included discussion on sexually transmitted diseasesand condoms.

The programme is an amalgam of various components  the first, theAbstinence component which is an adaptation of the Governor ofLouisiana Abstinence Programme which itself is based on the Ugandamodel. This model uses the A (Abstinence) B (Be faithful) C (condomuse for high-risk groups) approach. The Health and Family Lifecomponent is based on the Education Ministrys Health and FamilyLife programme which was introduced as part of the curriculum bythe Education Ministry. The third component comprises academicsEnglish and Mathematics, as well as sports, field trips, art andcraft. The usual post SEA activities but with a thrust towardhighlighting healthy alternatives, Williams said.

There is also a religious component in which students are taughtlife skills.

While abstinence programmes have been introduced in secondaryschools, Williams said last year the Church decided to tackleprimary schools because of issues of sexual activity and exposurebecause of the incidence of pornography on cell phones,pregnancies.

Williams said, We deal with STDs, AIDS the concept of condoms andother methods of contraception. This 12-module programme wasspread over three months.

Although the programme deals with condoms it does not promote condom use among children.

Willams said the inefficacy of condoms is highlighted andstatistics used to illustrate this.

Teachers are allowed to invite persons from the medical field tolecture to the children.

Williams said the topic of condoms always evokes raised eyebrows.

Theres always a debate whether you should talk to primary schoolstudents about the use of condoms but our thrust has always beenyou are not an animal there is a spiritual component to you andjust because the world tells you that you cannot abstain doesntmean you cant, she said.

Prior to the start of the VVFP schools were asked to hold meetingswith the Parent-Teachers Associations to introduce it to them andgive parents an opportunity to ask questions. However, thesemeetings were poorly attended.

Parents who did give input on the programme expressed differingviews about condoms being discussed. Williams said several parentsfelt condom use should be promoted and contraceptives discussedwhile there were others who felt condoms should not be discussed.The parents who wanted information shared on contraceptives wereadvised that the programme was not about preventing pregnancy andcontracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Its more than that. Itis the concept of risk avoidance.

Williams said risk prevention was about using condoms to preventSTDs and pregnancy but risk avoidance involved attitudes. Thecourse seeks to promote the concept of self discipline amongprimary school children.

So the onus is on us to not promote condoms because they arechildren.

Williams said very often when children are involved in sexualactivity it was because a family member or relatives boyfriendwas abusing them and/or enticing them with money.

You have to get the meat of that matter.

As a teacher, Williams said she has had to journey with childrento bring them to a place where they realise becoming involved insexual activity was too much for them.

She said in some instances the teacher may not have a goodrelationship with the child but still had to journey with them.These sessions are confidential and teachers are to approachchildren from a stance of care and concern for their well-being.Williams said, it often involves bringing in the parents. That is,if the parent will come.

The workbook for the VVFP tells pupils to value their body, and howthey are precious to God.

Teachers are encouraged to engage their pupils in conversation toallow the children to express thoughts and feelings.

Williams said, weve had boys in primary school tell us well weusing a condom so whats the problem? These are primary schooleleven-year-olds. Weve also had children who tell us they use thepenna-cool pack.

Williams said instead of advising the child to use a condom ratherthan penna-cool pack, the underlying issues had to be confronted.

Let us deal with the issues. Why are you having sex? Who is havingsex with you? One of the things that came up is a lot of thesechildren were being raped and thinking it is ok. So how can we justtell them use a condom? She said in this context, the argument oncondoms was not a religious one.

Dating is also covered in the course. Although there was debatewhether this should be included Williams said there were14-year-old post SEA students. We have girls dating teenagers andolder men so we have to address it.

Williams said secondary virginity is promoted in the programmeand has been endorsed by Archbishop Edward Gilbert. The idea is notnew but it is now on the record of the Church.

Opponents have argued that by talking about such things, childrenwould be inclined to put it into practice. Williams said, Myargument would be do you prefer the radio or television, MTV andBET to expose them because obviously the parents are not going todo it. Who do they prefer? And what information do they want passedon?