Earlier this year, the Ministry of Public Health released estimations that approximately eight thousand Guyanese are living with sexually transmitted infections (STI). The Ministry boasted that these rates are not indicative of new infections, but rather attributed it to the fact that persons were simply living longer on account of receiving treatment. In that same breath, they expressed concern about the still growing rates of infection amongst the adolescent population and suggested collaborations with the Ministry of Education and civil society to promote safe sex. These agencies, as individual and collective bodies, have devoted a lot of years and resources targeting STI’s and increasing knowledge on preventative strategies. So the question must be asked, why have adolescent infections remained so persistently high?
The answer is simple. When it comes to educating our children on their sexual health and rights, we use a very limited and outdated model that is more fitting in places of worship than institutions of learning.
We are failing to equip our children with the tools they need to survive in a world where sex, power and violence are usually heavily intertwined. When discussing sex in schools, many educators abide by the long failed ideology of abstinence-only education. They see the naturalness of biological functions as something that should only be discussed in the context of adulthood and marriage. Teaching children about their bodies and how to protect themselves from sexual predation and infections has somehow become equated with encouraging early sexual behaviour. Research has continuously proven that this belief is inaccurate and further states that abstinence- only education is the real culprit in encouraging early sexual behaviours as children are forced to learn about sex through their own experiences and that of their peers. Given the fact that STI rates amongst the youths continue to climb and teenage pregnancy rates still stand at twice the global average, the need to open our eyes on the ineffectiveness of our teaching methods surrounding sex has never been more urgent.
There seems to be hope on the horizon. Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry last year speaking on the gaps that exists within our Health & Family Life Education programme, reiterated the need for a shift towards more Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). CSE offers research-backed knowledge on material related to our bodies, reproduction and gender and sexual identities. It teaches children about healthy relationship skills, sexual abuse prevention and navigates conversations around consent and power. Should the CSE model be implemented, it will mark a progressive step for our education system and preparing teenagers for the realities of the world. A significant amount of money will however need to be plugged into the programme to ensure that not only select schools along the coast are benefiting as is currently the norm with HFLE. While some civil society groups have taken up the government’s slack of educating youths on their sexual health and rights, many of them are limited in their capacity and ability to reach youths in outlying areas and from marginalized groups. It also does not help that they are usually gagged by the policy of abstinence-only education in public schools. So here we have it, civil society once again takes on the role of doing work of the government, while government hinders the amount of progress they can make. Given the regularity with which the government usually invokes the name and help of civil society, one would think they would do more to support its work and stability.
CSE can play a large role in equipping young persons with knowledge on grooming signs and strategies that are used by sexual predators. It can be very important in understanding that consent is freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic and specific. Consent is something we need to continue harping on – even amongst the older folks. We usually focus a lot of emphasis on educating our youths about sex – they are after all the next generation – but in doing this, we forget/ignore that many of us adults also have very inaccurate beliefs and views of consent and sex. So many of us were raised by generations where it was believed and accepted that paternal ownership over women was a divine right sent down from the gods. This paternalism is why it is still largely believed by many that husbands cannot rape their wives or that a woman is not allowed to change her mind about sex once it has been initiated. Men’s rights and pleasure are always at the centre. Even when women are empowered about their rights and boundaries, coercion, rape and other acts of violence are often very real and frightening factors that they have to grapple with.
The need for Comprehensive Sexuality Education in our schools and communities is something that we should all strive for. Do not get bogged down by long debunked beliefs about sex education, it is knowledge that is instrumental in raising more empowered and informed youths and creating more respectful, safe and healthy societies.
