Youth debate: Sex education at school

Since the beginning of the year, the Mauritius Family Planning Welfare Association (MEPWA) recorded 107 cases of teenage pregnancy. According to the association’s director, Vidya Charan, around five pregnant teenage girls call at their office for help every week.

Over the past few years, the Ministry of Education has shown a willingness to introduce sex education in schools but this intention has been subject to much controversies. We ask three young persons whether the time is ripe for the introduction of sex education in schools.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"23579","attributes":{"class":"media-image alignleft wp-image-37372 size-full","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"271","height":"361","alt":"Faizal Sheik Chan"}}]]Faizal Sheik Chan: “Difference between infatuation and true love”

Physics teacher at St-Andrews College, Faizal explains that it is high time to introduce sex education in schools as nowadays, students are more exposed to pornography. “Teenagers are exposed to plain sex rather than the concept of love. It is a fact that human beings need to have sex, but it should emerge out of love.” According to him, teenagers need to understand that falling in love with someone at the age of fifteen does not last forever. “There is indeed a huge difference between infatuation and true love. Teenagers must grasp this fact as soon as they reach their adolescence.”

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"23584","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-37373 alignright","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"437","alt":"Vanisha Rajaysur"}}]]Vanisha Rajaysur: “Individuals are mostly preoccupied with sex”

Vanisha Rajaysur, 30, Human Resource Manager in the financial sector, firmly believes that comprehensive sex education is recognised worldwide as a human right. But nevertheless, she stresses upon the fact that there has been a shortcoming in educating people about the “emotional aspect”, i.e. “the essence of love making” rather than that of “sex” in relationships.

“Considered as a ‘legacy of the sexual revolution’, individuals are mostly preoccupied with sex in distorted ways, acting out their sexual impulses in early life stages. The alarming rate of sexual harassment, sexual assaults, domestic rape, unsafe sex and even abortion are not isolated cases. This somewhere proves that sexual manifestation in a person is more of a ‘perverted’ nature whereby they seek mostly ‘pleasurable experiences’ with limited commitment.”

She further explains “there is no more the element of ‘fear’ of getting intimate, as people become master of their own fate by rejecting societal values. Some get easily webbed in the ‘emotional blackmail’ of their partner, by surrendering themselves fully and ignoring the future repercussions of their acts, often fatal for themselves and their families. Loving someone is giving the ‘heart and mind’ primarily and the ‘body’ becomes secondary. Individuals have started questioning the importance of abstinence.”

“Evolution doesn’t mean getting rid of societal norms. Respecting the body, mind and soul of our partner is crucial. One should remember that emotions rule the heart while sexual knowledge reigns supreme in the brain. A blend of both is the key to creating an intelligent and responsible society,” she concludes.”

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"23587","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-37374 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"410","alt":"Lakshmi Anushka Sujeewon"}}]]Lakshmi Anushka Sujeewon:“Sex education should be introduced”

24-year old Lakshmi is an educator and argues that sex education is becoming a crucial matter because it is not just about studying puberty and reproduction but rather, it provides information on cases related to sexual reproduction, behaviour, intercourse, abstinence, birth control, sexual abuse and reproductive rights.

“Many people think that sex education only destroys morality because they wrongly think that sex education teaches about intercourse. Although students are taught about contraceptives and condoms, sex education must be integrated in primary and secondary schools because it can help to understand sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted teenage pregnancy. Moreover, teenagers are prevented from experimenting with sex and are encouraged to use protection while engaging in any type of sexual activity. People are able to understand the impact of sex in their lives. Thus, sex education eliminates the sex-related myths.”

For her, children are often curious about the other gender. “Children often want parents to talk to them about relationships, sex and growing up. Yet, many parents lack confidence to answer these questions. Sex education in secondary schools matters because this is the time where teenagers come across peer pressure and seek their independence. Sexual abstinence plays an important role for sexually active teenagers and transforms them into responsible adults. The frequency of child sexual abuse may diminish through sex education, as it helps children to understand the difference between right and wrong. In addition, it is more appropriate for children to learn about sex education from parents and at school, rather than through materials such as pornography.”

Question of the week: Welfare State: A necessity or waste of resources?

Recently the Minister of Finance Pravind Jugnauth called for a reflection on the universality of State hand-outs. This prompted debates on the Welfare State, which in Mauritius comprises of: free healthcare, education and a basic retirement pension (BRP). Does the free-for-all concept still stand its ground 48 years after independence? We asked two young professionals to debate this issue. Washeefah Dinmahamed, 23 years old, who works in the IT sector, argues that Mauritius should keep its Welfare State provisions while Aadil Jhumka, Director of Maaaj Enterprise, says the country should cut back on hand-outs.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"23590","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-37375 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"427","alt":"Washeefah Dinmahamed"}}]]Washeefah Dinmahamed: “We have keptour economy competitive”

“We have kept our economy competitive by finding areas in which we can excel, but what we aim at, we do really well. We can never be the biggest, but we can often be among the best. Mauritius can still try to sustain its economy through various emerging sectors like tourism.”

She further explains “the Welfare State seeks to develop and abolish poverty within a country. We have built a top quality workforce, with managers who are modern-minded, enterprising and well qualified, and workers with high skills, high motivation and high pay. The total workforce is better than in 1990s, with a lower proportion of people employed in agriculture, a much higher proportion in international services and, in all sectors, a higher proportion in the more skilled occupations.”

“With free education, Mauritius has been able to empower thousands of people. Education is the key to both personal fulfilment and economic productivity. Everyone can now access secondary schooling, and three-quarters stay for the full seven years. On top of that, we have maintained a social harmony which is impressive and precious, with diversity continuing to be a source of enrichment rather than a cause for division.”

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"23593","attributes":{"class":"media-image alignright wp-image-37376 size-full","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"299","height":"395","alt":"Aadil Jhumka"}}]]Aadil Jhumka: “Mauritius is suffering from bad investment”

Aadil Jhumka argues that it is high time for the government to review the universality of Welfare State. “Government is spending huge sums of money. The pension scheme goes to some persons who do not deserve it. Moreover, social benefits create unnecessary dependence. For example, children who see their parents receiving public assistance, instead of working, grow up with a distorted sense of what their options for the future will be and thus run the risk of requiring assistance when they start their own families.”

“Mauritius is already suffering from bad investment and economic crisis. Hence, the government cannot spend money unnecessarily. The government must help poor families but targeting is important. Investigations on genuine cases necessary to avoid any fake claims. Besides, the government can use the money for other priorities, such as security for the population. Crimes are increasing in the country and we need security to feel safer. Similarly, the government can invest in other projects so as to create job opportunities and reduce unemployment rate. Limiting the expenses will help Mauritius to boost up its economy.”