The Distribution of Condoms to School Children
I agree wholeheartedly with the position taken by the Minister of Education on the condom issue.
Schools in Jamaica,have absolutely no right to distribute condoms to their students. It is the responsibility of parents to do so together with the medical authorities set up to provide health care, advise and counselling in all areas:physical,sexual, emotional,, psycholigical and mental.
Parents have sacred rights concerning their children and these rights are fully recognised by the state. No one , absolutely no one has the right to infringe on the rights of parents regardless of their socio-economic status.
In the process of raising and caring for their children parents are mandated by law to send their children to schools set up to provide specific services to their children.In obeying the law parents do not give up their rights concerning their children.
The Ministry of Education has a mandate to educate children who enter its institutions.The ministry can see to it that students are taught ,in carefully organised family life and sex education classes all they need to know to understand who they are ,to protect themselves and to make proper decisions regarding their sexuality and their well being. In law, the schools do not have the right to provide condoms to students. To do so would be in contravention of the mandate given to them which is to educate.
Should a student fall sick at school,the school authorities need the parents’permission to administer treatment simply because medical care does not fall under their jurisdiction. A nurse assigned to the school by the Misnitry of Health can provide first aid care and has speicific guidelines to do so.
Should a student present emotional and behavioural problems that adversely affect his/her ability to learn the school can refer the matter to a psychologist or a remedial specialist.This referral is done with the full knowledge and approval of the parents.
Should a student present a promiscuous behaviour which is affecting her welfare and her ability to perform satisfactorily in class,the matter should be referred to the social worker attached to the school.The social worker will approach the parents and if necessary conduct a home study in order to establish the cause of such behaviour.Both parents and social worker will work together to guide the student and solve the problem at hand.
A very important question poses itself therefore. Why should the school authorities take the responsility of giving condoms to the students because they are sexually active?This concern does not fall within the mandate given to them in law and this position should be respected at all cost.
In raising and caring for their children parents must never break the boundaries set up by the laws and regulations of the land to protect their children.
It is vitally important that parents monitor the role that they allow people, government agencies and other organisations to play in the life of their children.
It was suggested that the guidance counsellor be put in a position to distribute condoms to the students.This again would be unacceptable.A guidance consellor has no right to be involved in the sexual life of the students under his supervision.It is not his role and not his given mandate.
To conclude, I would like to fully support the Ministry of Education’s stand and I would like to urge parents to be vigilant and protect their parental rights and the rights of their children.
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