Population growth

I WANT to respond to The National’s editorial titled, ‘Population growth PNG’s biggest challenge’ published last Thursday.
It is true that population growth is a developmental challenge for PNG.
However, I disagree that PNG women’s lack of knowledge, self-control and access to contraception is the cause of population growth. It takes a man and a woman to make a baby.
Therefore, teen pregnancy is not a women’s issue. There must be equal efforts from responsible institutions to have both men and women educated and provided access to knowledge and contraceptives.
If the government is really serious about arresting population growth it should include family planning discussions such as teen pregnancy and sexual intercourse as subjects in upper primary and secondary schools.
We should educate our young people at an early age about the responsibilities and consequences of sex.
The education system has a significant influence on the development of a child’s worldview.
School students spend the prime hours of the day in school and less time with their parents. So if there was an effective curriculum focused on family planning, our young people will make better decisions when it comes to sex.
We must break away from this cultural taboo that restricts the open discussion of sex because sexual intercourse is the primary cause of population increase.
The Education department should take the lead in this regard.
On the other hand, parents should start having discussions with their children in their early teen years about sex and the responsibilities that are involved.
Moreover, churches too have great influence and must develop youth programmes that educate young people. Church leaders and youth leaders should step up.

The Coconut Scribe
POM