Sex education should be introduced in school curriculums

Late last month the gay and lesbian community in Uganda was demanding for their rights and their government seems set to grant them liberty. One would ask is this ethical in our African tradition? My response to this would be negative. Coming closer home this trend is slowly but surely taking root among Rwandan youths. Schools are silently battling with this social evil and parents with children in boarding institutions would be shocked to discover what goes on within their walls. The school is supposed to be an incubator of good morals, just as the home is a nurturing environment for societal norms. Yet, we might be courting a surge in youth tendencies toward social maladjustments aped from the west. The permissive society has fuelled a gradual transformation from the way we view gender issues. It appears that African societal norms have not been spared by the wave of sexual permissiveness that has gradually swept across the globe. Sex education being introduced as a subject in schools has been met with resistance with opponents claiming it would ‘spoil’ children. Despite unwanted and early pregnancies, HIV/Aids, rape and defilement, among others, we still shroud sexuality in mysticism and ignorance. Matters relating to sexual orientation among the youth have rarely been addressed with the boldness they deserve. It is further entrenched in our laws of marriage that same-sex marriage is illegal. And any youngster going against the norms is considered a pervert, immoral or lost. The youth in this country and indeed other African counties are clearly suffering from an identity crisis, as they lack guidance due to our reluctance to discuss matters pertaining to sexuality. Parents, teachers and guardians should be open to these discussions, especially with teenagers who are often confused about their hormonal changes and sexual desires. dedantos2002@yahoo.com