Why confiscate condoms from school children?

I have been so grateful for the support of the police, including the gorgeous golden Labrador who sniffs out narcotics, who have done a great job of conducting searches at Nombulelo this year that it was wonderful to see the article in the paper acknowledging their work. I have to ask, however, (as I asked them last time they were at the school), what’s with confiscating condoms?

We are giving kids mixed messages: on the one hand we encourage them to practice safe sex, then on the other, we confiscate condoms. I find this particularly strange when the “kids” in question are often between the ages of 16 and 22. I certainly don’t condone any sexual activity at school, and in fact I recom- mend abstinence and a focus on studying – but I’m not naïve enough to imagine that all learners are buying my abstinence line.

I feel so strongly that (besides the risk of STDs and HIV in particular), the burden of trying to be a parent and study full time simultaneously makes life SO difficult for scholars and their families that I can’t understand why we would want to do anything to heighten the risk of that happening. I urge the police to rethink their policy on this one.

Nicci Hayes, Principal, Nombulelo Secondary School