Sex education guides delayed student pregnancies climb

After two years, guides for the teaching of sex education in Panama schools, are still being reviewed by government authorities and NGO’s but are subject to constant delays while the number of teen, and younger, pregnancies continues to soar.

“It is desired that the sexuality education information offered to students be scientific, objective, with ethical and moral values, but above all, with the responsibility to avoid early pregnancies, and to mental health and values,” Carlos Staff, Deputy Minister of Education.  Told El Siglo. Meanwhile, according to Staff teachers will continue with the training meetings in the schools

Karina Herrera, secretary of the Association of Parents and Family, said  that they only know that the texts are ready, and it only it is necessary to edit it to be presented in the middle of the first trimester of the year 2019 but  said that at no time were they presented to the parents We only know that there is a ‘Parent Guide’ and that they are meant to be taught in the primary and secondary grades.

“It is not going to be possible for the authorities to implement the guidelines in 2018 school year  because  some schools in the capital city have been chosen to be dormitories for foreigners who come to participate in World Youth Day.”, she said.

She said that The  Ministry of Education has only been dedicated to parents to resolve student pregnancies and not the serious complaints of sexual abuse of teachers against students.

The lack of consultations over sex education has generated disagreement between the church and various groups of civil society.

 

 

 

Related subjects Ministry of Education MEDUCA