This is a matter that has come up before. Attempts to discuss reproductive health at schools have repeatedly drawn controversy. The issue is one that needs to be tackled sensibly. There is a desperate need for girls and women to know about this matter. There is also an even more desperate need to promote birth control. This has been successfully achieved in other Muslim countries. We need to see why it apparently has not succeeded at home, with Pakistan’s birth rate among the highest in the world.
Schools are the right place to begin such campaigns, naturally in an appropriate fashion. Knowing more with regard to this subject is also important for women, in a society where such matters are rarely spoken of. This attitude needs to be changed. The change can only come step by step — but we need to work towards it and do everything possible to ensure children, both girls and boys, receive the education they require to conduct all aspects of their lives in a successful fashion. This would also be beneficial to society and for these reasons we need to overcome the taboos which exist for the sake of future generations.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.
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Human beings have innate desire to try out things which are kept away from their reach. It was the same desire which forced Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree despite of an early warning. Aim behind inculcating such thoughts in immature minds are linked with this innate curiosity, to arose desire of trying this forbidden part in adolescents.
Maybe the retired schoolteacher enjoyed teaching sex-education in his own way to kids and the sex-education that the NGO wishes to teach is in conflict with his desires?