‘Parents must have final say on condoms at school’

WHILE a Department of Basic Education policy, which was approved by cabinet, allows for Northern Cape pupils as young as 12 to have access to condoms, calls have been made for the ultimate say to come from parents.

The report, the National Policy on HIV, STIs and TB, was drafted in 2015 and the public was allowed to comment.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said it was part of a national effort in responding to HIV, STIs and TB and is based on the best available evidence coupled with wide consultation over a number of years.

Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe, confirmed yesterday that the policy had been promulgated.

He added, however, that the advocacy and implementation plan would be discussed at a meeting with the Department of Basic Education scheduled to take place at the end of July.

Earlier this week, the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) said parents should have the ultimate say on whether their child’s school may be allowed to supply pupils with condoms.

Sadtu national general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said parents and school governing bodies needed to be involved in decision-making when it comes to whether schools should implement the strategy.

“Every community is unique and this should be taken into consideration. We encourage parents to get involved.”

According to Stats SA 5.1 percent of females in the age group 14 to19 years were pregnant during the 12 months before the 2016 General Health Survey, released recently.

The prevalence of pregnancy increased with age, rising from 0.7 percent for females aged 14 years to 10.7 percent for females aged 19 years.

In the Northern Cape, the delivery rates for women under 18 years showed a decline from 11.3 percent in 2012/13 to 10.3 percent in 2013/14 and 9.6 percent in 2014/15 - mainly due to a number of interventions being in place to manage teenage pregnancy.

Infections

Nationally it is estimated that currently seven million people are HIV positive with about 270 000 new HIV infections and 450 000 new TB infections annually.

The HIV prevalence amongst the age group 15 to 24 in the Northern Cape is 4.1 percent, which is the second lowest provincial prevalence rate in the country. However, condom distribution is a challenge in the Province, mainly due to an undersupply of condoms as well as logistical challenges with distribution.

According to the SA National Aids Council, the target for 2014/15 in the Province was 30 million condoms, while only 8.3 million were actually distributed.

The new policy allows for pupils to have discreet access to male and female condoms, and information on how to use them.

“We know the protective role that education can play in reducing young people’s vulnerability to HIV, STIs, TB, unintended early pregnancy and harmful behaviour in general, and call on society to support every child of school-going age to stay in school until completion.

“South Africa currently has an estimated 2 000 new HIV infections each week in adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 years. This is a situation we cannot allow to continue.”

Children between the ages of 12 and 16 may consent to sexual acts with one another, according to the Criminal Law Amendment Bill. Motshekga said therefore children above the age of 12 have the right of access to health service, including sexual and reproductive health services, without having to seek parental consent.

The school curriculum will also encompass information on HIV, STIs, pregnancy and TB, including dual protection contraception, HIV testing, STI screening and treatment, and information on medical male circumcision.

The Governing Body Foundation national chief executive, Tim Gordon, said it was necessary to offer pupils protection considering that children as young as 12 were engaging in sexual activity.

“No matter one’s feelings, you have to take into consideration the high rate at which STIs and HIV is spread.

“We made a number of recommendations when the policy was drafted, and we agree that pupils should have access to condoms if it is handled discreetly and sensitively.”