Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer

Faced with an increasing number of students who are sexually active and at risk of contracting HIV /AIDS through sex, the Ministry of Education is refusing to back down on its stance against condom distribution in public schools.

Christopher Graham, national coordinator for HIV/AIDS education at the Ministry of Education, said the ministry is aware that students are having sex.

"We are aware that a number of them (students) are sexually active and that some are even involved in transactional sex, sometimes for economic reasons," he disclosed.

However, Mr. Graham's response to the possibility of condom distribution to students was a resounding no.

"Schools should be no-sex zones and our primary message is abstinence. We encourage students to abstain from sexual activity and early sexual initiation. However, we expose students to other prevention messages such as condom use. But the primary overarching message is abstinence," Mr. Graham stated.

A recent UNICEF report 'Children - the Missing Face of AIDS, The Situation in Jamaica' shows the average age of first-time sex for girls aged 15-24 is 15.8 years, and for boys in the same age range, 13.5-years-old. In many of the liaisons taking place, condom use was minimal.

Adolescent victims

Between 2002 and 2004, 59 adolescents in Jamaica contracted HIV. Of this number, 49 were females. Over the same period, 203 adolescent were reported to have progressed to the AIDS stage, 142 of whom were females.

In the face of these facts, Mr. Graham emphatically maintained that the ministry does not promote the distribution of condoms on school campuses. However, in recognition that sexual activity is taking place, the ministry is looking into the possibility of a referral system for such students. Under this system, if students ask for contraceptives, they would be referred to a health centre that is authorised to distribute contraceptives.

Mr. Graham said the age factor is taken into consideration by the ministry in the referral process as students under the age of consent, which is 16, who express an interest in getting contraceptives, are counselled by school staff and where necessary, referred for further counselling.

Sessions will explore

"The counselling will explore issues such as risk and possibly the reason behind early sexual initiation. Issues such as transactional sex, that involves school children, are also explored, as that is one of the challenges schools are faced with. Sometimes young people who are involved in this kind of activity do so for economic reasons, which sometimes requires more than just counselling. Sometimes a coordinated social intervention, which includes several agencies, depending on the particular situation, is necessary," he disclosed.

While the ministry does not condone condom distribution in schools, Mr. Graham says guidance counsellors have always been teaching students contraceptive skills, including condom use.

Kerrel McKay, youth interventions coordinator with the Ministry of Health (MOH), said there are a significant number of young people in schools who are sexually active. In discussions with these young people, she has noted that they have found the counselling sessions on sex wanting.

"They said there is a need for comprehensive sex education in schools that would equip them to deal with the pressing issues of sex," she explained.

Ms. McKay further stated that the ministry's stance on condoms prevents students from approaching teachers and guidance counsellors with some of their problems.

"Students don't feel comfortable talking to teachers and guidance counsellors about sex as the adults don't seem comfortable discussing on the issues with them. A number of young people, who were part of an MoH focus group, admitted that information given is not practical or detailed enough. Many of them reveal that most of the information they receive regarding sex is given by their peers," she said.

Dr. Peter Figueroa, chief of epidemiology and director of the National HIV/STI Control Programme, believes the Ministry of Education needs to be more practical in the face of the increasing epidemic among Jamaica's teens.

"We need to teach life skills and condom skills to our young people in schools to prepare them for when they become sexually active. There needs to be discretionary access to condoms for sexually-active school children through a responsible teacher with appropriate counselling," Dr. Figueroa stated.

health curricula

As a way to deal with issues relating to sexual reproductive health, Mr. Graham said the ministry will be introducing a revised life skills-based health and family life education (HFLE) curriculum in the island's schools by September 2007.

"The HFLE curriculum was revised and infused with life skills. The existing curriculum was largely knowledge based. However, it was felt that students should be equipped with practical skills," he explained.

He said the new curriculum has four themes - sexuality and sexual health, self and inter-personal relationships - which deal with appreciation of self and others and building healthy relationships with others; appropriate eating techniques and fitness that involves making informed choices regarding diet, exercise, healthy life choices, as well as proper management of the environment.

"It would also teach students sex negotiation skills. We are aware that young people can be influenced into early sexual initiation and experimentation. They will be made aware of the risks involved in particular behaviours and taught that they can make informed choices," Mr. Graham said.

Mr. Graham explained that the HFLE curriculum has already been piloted and evaluated in 24 schools in four regions between January and June 2006. He said the programme, which should be taught in 150 of the islands schools effective September 2007, has been quite effective, but there are challenges with its implementation.

"We now have the task of getting principals to put it on the timetable so that it is taught as a subject," he stated.

According to Mr. Graham, some of the principals are very eager to include the new curriculum, but some are severely challenged by a number of restrictions and traditional subjects will always take centre stage. He says the ministry plans to contract a consultant to develop an implementation plan for the revised HFLE curricula.

He says implementing the new curriculum is a priority for the Education Ministry as the ministry recognises that students who are sexually active are at particularly high risks of contracting HIV and other STIs.

"The ministry is making every effort to refine existing policies and our curriculum approach and the management of issues specifically pertaining to sexuality and sexual health. We have never really included young people in the policy formation process, and we are working to change that," he disclosed.

Mr. Graham noted that HIV infection is higher among girls because they have sex with older men who have resources to offer them and they are not always in a position to negotiate condom use.