BARBADOS - Debate continues on issuing condoms in schools

BRIDGETOWN (CMC):

Regional educator and coordinator in the North America Caribbean region for Education International Virginia Albert-Poyotte appears to have changed her position on the controversial subject of distributing condoms in schools.

Following a teachers' workshop in St Lucia last month, Albert-Poyotte had said the issue must be tackled since advocating that students exercise safe sex or abstinence could not be considered a guarantee.

"We are promoting abstinence for students as best as we can, but given the situation with our young people, it is one thing to preach, but another thing to practice. Therefore, we have to give them the alternative, which is the use of condoms," she said then.

But in an interview published in The Nation newspaper on Sunday, Albert-Poyotte said she is against the distribution of condoms in schools.

"We want students to focus on their studies and their future and delay sexual activity until they are mature. We strongly advocated abstinence among students. They are students and we don't expect them to engage in sexual activities. We don't expect them to act like adults," she said.

However, Albert-Poyotte said she is not under any misguided notions that all young people were abstaining.

She said there were some bold and brazen young people who "let you know up front and to your face" that they are having sex.

She said for these adventurous teens, the talk of the use of condoms as a preventative measure from contracting HIV/AIDS, guarding from sexually transmitted diseases, and teenage pregnancies must be broached.