The report quotes Dr Hasan al-Abdullah, a consultant on skin diseases and the
reproductive system at the Hamad hospital, as saying that in this age of
information explosion and the unmitigated impact of censored and uncensored
serials besides the suggestive ads that are endlessly telecast on the satellite
channels, it has become imperative to consider educating children about sex.
"We have to set aside our inhibitions and embark on a well thought out plan of
lessons to be imparted in stages beginning from the middle school when the
child is around 10 years of age" he said.
Concurring with this view another specialist on the subject, Dr Ashraf Karara
of the Doha Clinic said that the youth have to be enlightened on sex and made
to understand that more than being a source for fulfilling one's carnal desires
in a wrongful way, it is the divinely ordained source for procreation and for
the preservation of humankind of which each family is a basic unit.
However, the report highlights the point that Qatar being a tradition loving
country, it is not easy to break the ice and introduce anything drastic in the
school curriculum.
In this context the report refers to the experience of other countries. In the
United States, the conservative groups in 13 States had passed a resolution to
amend the syllabus on sex education in keeping with their policy of
discouraging pre-marital sex, contraception, abortion and abnormal sexual
relations.
In India the subject is being handled in a unique manner - through free
dialogue between the teacher and the students.
In Holland, Sweden and France it is being taught in full detail from a very
early age without any inhibitions since the authorities in these countries are
of the view that it is a matter of right for every individual to be educated
about the good and harmful aspects of sex. This liberal approach has proved to
be beneficial, says the report. It has reduced incidents of pre-marital
conceptions and abnormal sexual relations.
