October 17 2006

According to this article, since 1997 the Jamaican public has been at odds

over the issues of sex
education and the distribution of contraceptives

in schools. Most parents
and teachers still believe that the distribution

of contraceptives will
promote sexual activity among young people.

This editorial, in the "TeenAge" section of The

Jamaica Observer, argues that sex-education and

contraceptives are needed in schools and that

students themselves are calling for this change.
The focus of the argument is that prohibiting

distribution of condoms in school and lack of

sex education are not deterrents to student

sexual activity, as shown by teen pregnancy

rates and HIV/AIDS infection rates.

The article recommends sex education infused in

the curriculum of primary and secondary schools

and a national programme to issue contraceptives

to those secondary school students who are at

risk of having unprotected sex. It calls on the

government to enforce the Child Care and

Protection Act, including mandatory reporting of

crime and regulations for a Children's Registry.