Controversies ‘should not stop’ sex education review decisions

The “fragmented” sexual education system in schools has to be reviewed and controversies should not stop decision-makers from making the right choices for students’ well-being, according to GU Clinic head Philip Carabot.

When it came to the country’s sexual health strategy being drawn up, “the sex education review is even more important than the medical review on which there is no controversy”, Dr Carabot said.

A controversy erupted early last month when Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said the 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 had enraged Dr Carabot who for years has campaigned for a holistic sexual health policy – that was finally launched last Friday.

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

In a pastoral letter on Saturday, the Maltese Bishops said any teaching on sexuality should address the respect and love between spouses before tackling the physical aspect.

The National Sexual Health Policy pointed out the “scanty and uncoordinated” sexual education in schools.

The policy, which has been in the pipeline for 11 years, will serve as a stepping stone for the drafting of the strategy. The government said it would start drafting the strategy by February.

A study quoted in the policy document showed a widespread lack of preparedness and effective technical skills by teachers to discuss sexual issues with students during Personal and Social Development (PSD) classes.

It also showed lack of professional educational resources for teachers and lack of standards and coordination by teachers of different subjects in addressing sexual health. It highlighted an urgent need for more research and monitoring of educational practices to ensure standards were set and maintained in terms of teaching methods, content and timing of lessons.

Dr Carabot said it was very positive to see different people, including politicians, Church representative, educators and medical professionals, come together to discuss sexual health.

“The positive thing is that for the first time in 10 years there has been a public admission we have a problem that we must address with urgency,” he said referring to sexual health in general.

However, he added, the policy was not enough and the next step was to have a viable strategy to ensure sexual well-being.

There was consensus over the medical review that included the relocation of the GU clinic to Mater Dei Hospital, enlarging the clinic, allocating more resources to it and drafting guidelines for coordination between specialists.

“People might get stuck on sex education... Just because there are controversies we should not stop from doing what is right,” he said.

Dr Carabot also pointed out the policy highlighted the overall need for more research that would help guide the strategy. “Research is ongoing and should not stop us from having a strategy by February. It should not stop us from starting to act,” he cautioned.