It is reported that a student was to give birth on the same day set for an exam. Not wanting to miss out on the opportunity to sit for the exam and have that qualification under her belt, the girl made a request to the relevant authorities to be allowed to sit for the exam the day before. Her request was turned down.

Most young girls are fully aware of how to get pregnant and they consciously set out to do so, because of a lack of other aspirations- Claire Bonello

This case was brought up by Labour MP Justyne Caruana during a sitting of the Parliamentary Committee for Family Affairs.

In the ensuing discussion, word inevitably fell on the failings of the sexual health policy and sex education, which was said to be the underlying solution for all teenage mums. In support of this argument, Labour MP Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca mentioned the case of a 22-year-old girl who was expecting her fourth child.

The fact she was expecting for the fourth time seemed to imply some failing of the sexual health policy, the authorities, or the government. To my mind, it is not the case.

Although sexual health education is necessary and desirable, we can’t really be serious and conclude that all the teenagers getting knocked up are doing so because they are extremely naive and have no idea of what their fumbling will lead to. That’s not it.

Most young girls are fully aware of how to get pregnant and they consciously set out to do so, because of a lack of other aspirations. They want to have a child to affirm their social standing, to retain some kind of hold on the father of that child and to claim benefits. It’s this kind of mindset which has to be addressed, not necessarily a campaign about faffing around with condoms or the pill.

• One of the Mahatma Gandhi quotes that gets bandied around a lot is the one which goes, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

Gandhi originally used it to encourage the people of India to rebel against their colonial masters and to persevere in their struggle. It seems that the Nationalist Party is intent on acting out this saying in reverse.

Having had its fair share of glorious victories and winning various struggles along the way, the party is now mired at the stage where it is more ridiculed or seen as a formidable political force.

The Prime Minister is seen as a lame duck and the party lurches from one disaster to another. Accusations and counter-accusations are traded as Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando makes barmier claims by the minute (Coming up next: Richard Cachia Caruana is really a remote-controlled robot fuelled by magic beans).

Instead of a winning team,the party is a hotbed of hate where everybody briefs against everybody else.

There are a number of reasons for this state of affairs of course. The leadership of the party is weak and ineffectual, not even having the guts to tell the rebel MPs where to get off.

Yes, there has been a decision not to allow them to contest the general election under the party ticket, but both Pullicino Orlando and Jesmond Mugliett had declared they weren’t interested in contesting, so what kind of sanction is that? Might as well tell a bald man that you’re going to take away his supply of shampoo.

Fat lot of good it would do. There’s the ever-increasing reliance on PR stunts and online gimmicks which give the PN the air of utter desperation.

However, the biggest contribution to their downfall was made by the top party people who chose to help and cover JPO when it was quite clear that he was not as naive and hard done by as he claimed to be.

The fracas we see now is simply their reaping what they had sown back in 2008. As yet another apt saying goes, “When you sup with the devil you need a long spoon”.

And here’s where the Labour Party should sit up and take note. JPO’s antics are currently providing the opposition with much satisfaction.

The PL can stand back as he lights the fuse underneath the backsides of the Nationalist bigwigs and enjoy the resultant explosion. But if they cosy up to him too much, they may well find themselves walking into the same trap as that which claimed the Nationalists.

If JPO could turn upon the party in which he militated for so many years, simply because he believes that he has been passed over, what’s to stop him from turning upon the Labour Party which is not-so-indirectly helping him, if he doesn’t get what he wants?

The PN must be kicking itself for its deal with the devil. I wonder if the Labour Party will learn from the PN’s mistake.

cl.bon@nextgen.net.mt