Almost 90 per cent of schoolchildren aged between 14 and 16 are not sexually active and many feel different teachers are giving them mixed messages when it comes to sexual education, according to a study.

The study, which formed part of Roderick Bugeja’s doctorate in health, claims that 88 per cent of students are not sexually active.

Dr Bugeja conducted a survey among 1,310 students from a range of Church, state and private schools. He also conducted focus groups among students.

The seminar on sexual education was organised by the Malta PSD Association in collaboration with the Standards Directorate within the Education Ministry.

Dr Bugeja called for a national policy on sexual education that would ensure the subject was taught in a uniform manner across all schools. There were some schools in Malta, he said, where PSD was not being taught in Forms 3 to 5.

The policy should also address quality assurance in the methods used to teach sexual education, he said.

During yesterday’s seminar, public health expert Anna Maria Vella said sexual education had to be factual. Dr Bugeja’s study – that spanned from 2003 to 2009 – showed that 88 per cent of those questioned were not sexually active.

Schoolchildren were currently being told to abstain, be faithful, “condomise” and not to use drugs. Again, there was a conflicting message in telling them to abstain and use a condom, Dr Vella said.

Dr Vella stressed that these young students needed a positive, clear, honest message that was not built on fear.

So what should this message be? Dr Vella said in the case of schoolchildren, they should be advised to postpone having sex. This was not based on her opinion but on realities and research, she said.

Sexual health education made the headlines earlier this month when Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said “our educational system could be abusing students if, instead of helping them control their sexual energy, it offers them information and methods, such as contraceptives, inducing them to give in to the culture of pleasure”.

The comments enraged GU Clinic head Philip Carabot, who for years has campaigned for a holistic sexual health policy, which was finally promised later this month.

Mgr Grech later clarified that his comments should not be taken to mean he was against sexual education but only that sexual education should be put in its proper context, or a holistic approach, which includes the ethical dimension.

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