Churches oppose condoms in New Ireland schools

A MAJOR challenge to implementing a HIV/AIDS policy for schools in the New Guinea Islands is the opposition from churches to make condoms readily available in schools for the fear of increased sexual activities.
The opposition is right across the board in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARB), New Ireland and East New Britain.
The HIV/AIDS policy for the national education system 2012-16 was launched in August and it does advocate introducing condoms into the school system.
The Education Department believes the best way to implement the policy is at school level.
The department is of the view that HIV/AIDS is a serious concern in this country and a good starting prevention point is at the school, as children will then grow up with positive attitudes.
ARB chief executive officer education Bruno Babato said there were different stakeholders in education such as churches that did not support the issue of condoms in schools.
He said based on principles, churches believed that if condoms were made available, it would indirectly promote sexual activities.
The education division would be working with churches to provide alternatives and wanted parents to be involved.
A recent research indicated that more that 70% of people in the rural areas were not receiving HIV/AIDS awareness.
New Ireland education adviser Andrew Kaiap said almost 70% of schools in the province were owned by churches that were part of provincial education board and made it clear that they would not allow condoms to be used in schools.
He said New Ireland was facing sex problems in schools and condom availability may lead to more  student-teacher sexual activities and teachers having affairs with each other.
“Churches believe that by making condoms  available publicly, it’s like you are giving children and teachers the licence to have more sex, and the end result is more marriage breakdowns and more girls getting expelled,” Kaiap said.”
He said two girls at Manggai Secondary School were expelled recently for having sexual relationships with an outsider.
“The fear now is that we increase the rate of expulsion if we give out condoms in schools.”
He said the province would look at other ways of preventing the disease and would depend heavily on churches and NGOs to help come up with solutions.
East New Britain education advisor Sione Faiva said  people were still accustomed with traditional ways and people did not openly talk about sex, which is perhaps why churches are also opposing the introduction of condoms in schools.
Other challenges highlighted in the survey were a lack awareness and social activities.