Friday, March 29, 2024

The planned distribution of condoms in secondary schools gets condemnation

Share

Zambia National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council staff giving out Condoms during Labour Day celebrations
FILE: Zambia National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council staff giving out Condoms during Labour Day celebrations
THE Basic Education Teachers of Zambia (BETUZ) and some concerned parents have roundly condemned the planned distribution of condoms in secondary schools.

BETUZ spokesperson Kakunta Kabika said the planned distribution of condoms in schools by a named civil society had the potential to erode the morals of pupils and was a direct contradiction of the Christian and moral values on abstinence.

Mr Kabika said distribution of condoms in schools amounted to indirectly inciting sexual indulgence among pupils.

He said it was disheartening that Zambia’s cultural values were being diluted by so-called modern trends which were being championed by civil societies.

He said distribution of contraceptives in schools would only arouse indecent curiosity among pupils and lead them into practising sex.

He said instead of distributing condoms and contraceptives to pupils, civil societies should come up with more decent ways of teaching teenagers about sexuality and the dangers of sexually transmitted infections.

He said pupils should be taught that abstinence is the only way to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections like HIV-AIDS and others.

Esther Mwangala, a representative of the Parents Committee of Kamwala Secondary School in Lusaka said the distribution of contraceptives in schools served only to encourage immorality among the pupils who were not ready for the psychological and physical consequences of a sexually active life.

Ms Mwangala feels that the exercise will only encourage pupils to indulge in sexual activities which can lead to unplanned pregnancies.

“If condoms are distributed to them, some pupils will feel encouraged to start engaging in sexual activity…and that will distract them from studies and expose them to other unnecessary risks,” she said.

She rejected claims by those arguing for the distribution of condoms and contraceptives in schools that it would curb teenage pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

“Our morals have been shut down by such trends… there is no way distribution of condoms can stop teenage pregnancies. It will just add up to moral decay in secondary schools,” she said.

Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili said she strongly opposed the idea.

She said in repeated recent pronouncements, President Edgar Lungu had been very clear about the importance of the nation upholding its moral values, especially among the youth.

‘If there are any civil society groups trying to advocate for that, they have no blessing from both government and the country as a whole, because distributing condoms in schools is encouraging children to engage in sex before marriage, she said.

11 COMMENTS

  1. Name the civil society. Hon minister doesnt even know if it is happening. But it wont happen and the Hon Minister will say ministry stopped it. Justification for ministry of national guidamce and religious affairs to even exist.
    If the ministry was functioning tnen the the BETUZ wouldnt have to tell them

  2. thats the foolishness we have in zambia.its all garbage.if it were planned hiv testing & free hiv testing in same schs its welcome.why do we avoid weeding out major main causes? this behaviour of reverse retards thinking is what keeps the pandemic a cycle.same statistics same fate arv donors dependency syndromes…

  3. Condemnation is what they meant to say. The problem in Africa is that we are all aware that people come of age when they are in school. They are taught biology for a reason and in some countries sex education. We all know African children will not go to their parents and ask for money for condoms or their parents will not buy them condoms. In colleges and universities abroad, free condoms and distributed or left in clear view of students or nurses distribute them. This helps reduce teen pregnancies or the spread of STI’s especially AIDS/HIV. Now, we can continue living in denial or save our children. Being taught in school is great but don’t deny yourselves, youth will not engage in sex.

  4. Well how is this any worse than lungu pardoning child molesters and female beater like Clifford dimba? Under pf there is no sense of morality. Just look at how careless lungu is travelling wasting money without any consideration for the poor. Lungu should have been stopped with a condom when his parents were making him.

  5. What exactly is the issue here? Who is distributing condoms and where? Who is also receiving condoms and from where? Are they male of female condoms? Please let us know the story first.

  6. What exactly is the issue here? Who is distributing condoms and where? Who is also receiving condoms and from where? Are they male of female condoms? Please let us know the story first.

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading