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pupils is rampant in high schools.
Debating a motion on issues affecting children living and working in the streets in the Children’s Parliament yesterday, Tinofara Hove, said most pupils were exposed to HIV and risked falling pregnant.
“Most pupils are falling pregnant at school and are also vulnerable to being infected with HIV and some of them end up going into the streets because they are afraid of their parents.
“If contraceptives are to be offered at schools, the rate of pregnancy and HIV infections will significantly go down.
“Pupils are already immoral because they are engaging in sex so it doesn’t help to try and pretend.
“I know my friends are having sex in school halls and toilets so there is need to make sure they are protected,” Hove said.
However, fellow junior parliamentarians and senior legislators said it will not be proper to approve contraceptives in schools.
Childline public relations and fundraising officer, Ms Patience Chiyangwa, also confirmed pupils were indulging in sex but would not proffer a solution.
“The issue of pupils indulging in sex is a major issue because when we went for the youth games sometime ago pupils were approaching us requesting for the contraceptives,” she said.
However, Tawanda Chabisa, another junior parliamentarian, said providing contraceptives in schools would be disastrous.
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“It wouldn’t be morally correct for condoms to be distributed at schools. Pupils go to schools to be productive not to reproduce,” he said.
Chitungwiza Senator, Mr James Makore (MDC-T) who also attended the sitting, said providing contraceptives in schools was un-African.
“We are Africans who have a culture, which has to be observed. If we give you a go ahead to have contraceptives at schools we would have ruined our culture and your future.
“We shall abide by the rules of our culture. We can’t approve the wrong things and there is no way we can have it as a policy,” he said.
Buhera Central Member of the House of Assembly Mr Tangwara Matimba (MDC-T) added: “It is true that there can be immorality in society and schools but we can’t legislate a wrong thing.
“Those who want to indulge, if they really want to protect themselves, they can go ahead and buy them (condoms), no one refuses them to buy them.”
National Programme of Action for Children co-ordinator, Ms Anne Musiwa said: “If contra- ceptives are to be provided in schools then it will mean that we should have clinics in those schools because condoms are not the only contraceptives.”
Online Reporter