Teach teens how to love, kids tell Adul

Boys urged to avoid touch, girls to stay alert

Youngsters should be taught “how to love”, including understanding the risks of sex, such as unwanted pregnancy, and learning how to avoid being pressured into having sex, a youth leader told a cabinet minister yesterday.

Narong Fubprakon, president of the Children and Youth Council of Thailand, made the suggestions during a briefing with Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo, the Social Development and Human Security Minister, ahead of Valentine’s Day tomorrow.

Mr Narong, joined by other members of the council, said the Education Ministry should change its sex education material to be more age-appropriate.

Youngsters should be taught about relations with the opposite sex, resolving problems with the opposite sex, safe sex and other forms of love, such as love for parents.

He said boys should learn to honour women and respect them by not taking liberties, and girls must be “up to the boys’ tricks”, and learn to say no to them, Mr Narong said.

“Boys shouldn’t hold the girls’ hands or touch their arms even if they are just friends,” Mr Narong said.

The children’s council also called on the ministry and state agencies working in the sector to set up a centre to provide care for pregnant teens and young mothers. Some girls are disowned by their families when they become pregnant.

“When pregnancy-related problems arise, youths, especially girls, are not likely to talk to their parents. A centre such as this one could provide proper suggestions to alleviate their troubles,” Mr Narong added.

Pol Gen Adul said that for Valentine’s Day, the ministry will seek cooperation from businesses to prevent teenagers from entering “inappropriate areas”.

Random inspections of motels and night clubs are planned by special units of the Interior Ministry and the Royal Thai Police Office.

He said the increase in the number of abandoned babies shows many youngsters were not ready for parenting.

“Love is a good thing, but tends to lead to difficulties later. Boys and girls must behave themselves, while sex education must be used as a tool to raise their awareness,” Pol Gen Adul said.

Meanwhile, Ramrung Subansenee, director of the One Stop Crisis Centre, said some adolescents will mark the love festival by having sex for the first time.

In previous years, youngsters had called the centre asking how they could avoid pregnancy, admitting they had already had sex.

Ms Ramrung said public hospitals have formed special teams to help pregnant girls under the age of 18.

Temporary places to stay will be arranged for them if they cannot live with their parents or relatives.

Teen mothers will also be put through a programme after giving birth to teach them how to care for their babies.