Sex Education and the Degeneration of
Culture
By
Mohammed Bala
mohammedbala@hotmail.com
It was quite disheartening and disgusting when I read in newspapers
that the
teaching of sex education is being considered for implementation in our
Primary and Secondary Schools. The move, if it turns out to be true,
then
our governments are taking western orientation too far and dangerously.
For
one, we are Africans who are developing in many facets of survival and
should first identify our priorities with the view to ameliorating them
instead of taking on issues that hitherto have no bearing, whatsoever
on us.
I see the move as having some clandestine motives that we the parents
have
no means of knowing. All parents of decent know very well that the well
being, and moral upbringing of their children rests squarely on their
shoulders. If this is allowed, then the stage is being set to spiraling our
children, especially girls, into a dehumanizing and shattering future.
The very question we have to ask ourselves first, is whether sex education
is a necessity for our children or not? The proponents are saying that
principally it will curb the spread of AIDS, curtail sexual escapades
and
curb child molestation! The other question is that why have the
governments
not considered the matter for implementation all these years until now?
Is
it a convenient time to do so, when other aspects of immoral activities
are
going on unabated in our Schools? The unwholesome and unfortunate cult
and
cultists activity, exam malpractice and street hawking by kids, are
still
not solved and are waxing stronger by the day. Another negative aspect
being
experienced today in Schools is the lack of qualified and decent
teachers as
is used to be in the past when teachers were teachers! When the dress
code
was a must for teachers before even they go into class to teach. The
issue of cultism in all our Schools has become a cankerworm that has
defied solutions and appeared to be above the capabilities of
governments to
solve. It is daily being reported that cultists have clashed with
rivals in
this or that school. Sometimes the clashes disrupt lessons and in
extreme
cases, schools were shut. The issue is that even the School Authorities
have
lost interest in tackling the unfortunate development. Parents are
blaming
the teachers and the authority, perhaps giving credence to the
allegation
that the teachers themselves engage in cultists' activities! The exam
malpractice syndrome has also defied solutions, even though the
authorities are doing a great deal to curb it. The most unfortunate
aspect of
it all is that parents unfortunately are encouraging it by selling exam
papers to eager students who have been given money by parents to do
whatever possible to pass their exams. Sometimes even parents are said
to be
doing the bargain for illegal exam papers with the teachers on behalf
of
their children. If a father or mother can stoop so low and approach a
School
teacher for exam papers for their wards, is to say the least disgusting
and
an abomination of the highest proportions. Where are our manners and
reputations gone? To even think that this type of behaviour is being
done
with the full knowledge of the child is even worst, as the impression
being
given to the child is negative.
Western culture, where a child says to his dad or mom, " you are lying,
dad!" while in the cause of a discussion, cannot be accepted by any
decent
African man that has been breast fed and humbly brought up by two
decent and
reputable parents. It should also be understood, that our culture has
never
been the same with that of the advanced countries where our children
are
falling on one another to reach. We are encouraging the drift to the
west by
not taking the necessary steps to keep and enhance our rich
culture. The
sordid picture of Africans being shown on TV daily being caught by
coast
guards in Europe and carted back home, is very much disturbing, because
we
are giving a wrong impression that our Africa is no longer habitable.
These
type of people trying to illegally cross into Europe might be products
of
bad or careless parenting, as no decent son could contemplate
abandoning his
parents, friends, hometown and native country for a foreign land in
such a
way.
Sometimes ago, I come across a report announcing that the University
of
Lagos has banned indecent dressing by students in the School premises.
A few
days later I also read another report, this time from the University of
Port
Harcourt, also banning indecent dressing by students when in the
premises.
Honestly, I was highly impressed by those two reports I read. If we can
realize that, that or this girl, is another daughter of someone and
needs to
be protected from lust craving chauvinists among us, then the better
for us.
Religiously, in both Islam and Christianity decency of dressing are
emphasized and encouraged. Look at Nuns for example, how the dress by
covering their whole bodies, except the face is a shining example to
follow.
Exposing the body of a lady in public through indecent dress mode, is
giving
the impression that the lady is either a prostitute or a result of an
unfortunate, careless and unguarded parenting.
The African way and manner of bringing up children is rapidly being
shirked
and disregarded. The respect children have for their parents and elders
have
now been turned into disrespect and sometimes brazen disobedience. It
might
not be off course to say that whosoever leaves home, will never find
home
anywhere, unless they come back. Government has a responsibility of
putting
things in order so that the lure of better lifestyles elsewhere could be
minimized among the teeming youths. The grown ups that lack parental
supervision become easily susceptible to committing crimes and dull in
class. The idea to of inculcating sex education in the tender minds of our
children, especially girls, will be counter productive. It will crudely
and
wickedly expose them full blown act of coitus that result in curiosity
to
further explore. I believe that the matter is fully an act guided by
nature,
since ourselves and our parents were never taught how to, but some how
learned the act. A very common example is on animals that live in the
bush,
but natural endowed with the prowess of performance and have been
multiplying their species.
The idea therefore, is based on someone's personal whims and caprices,
perhaps just for the gains that may accrue to him in terms of finance.
The
proponents are no doubt trying to make us swallow a bitter pill whose
end
result will be our kids becoming wildly molded and orientated in
matters
that they are only supposed to learn and comprehend better by the time
they
mature. Our Mosques and Churches leave the unnecessary bickering
between
them, and unite in this regard to persuade both the Federal and States
Governments to relinquish the idea and perhaps gear energy towards
standardizing the learning of subjects that are currently taught in
Schools.
We must all realize that "that girl" is also someone's daughter,
therefore
the responsibility of her good upbringing rests not only on her
parents, but
also on others. We should be our brothers keepers.
Mohammed Bala,
Bajoga-Gombe-Nigeria.
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