Sex education is a topic that often causes controversy and divides opinions. Madagascar is no exception to this rule. Recently, the Malagasy Ministry of National Education published a note which caused a lot of discussion. This memo states that from now on, all activities related to sex education must be focused on abstinence. Sex education courses in middle and high schools are now entitled “Education for Life in Harmony” (EVH) and will no longer deal with contraception.
According to Eliana Raharinosy, the general director in charge of educational establishments at the ministry, this decision aims to “reestablish a framework in the way of teaching sex education to young people”. She explains that the objective of National Education is to train good citizens, and that sex education plays a crucial role in the quality of future citizens. According to her, the laissez-faire nature of sex education in schools has disrupted Malagasy culture, and other sex education stakeholders do not share the same values. This is why this note was published.
This decision was met with mixed reception. Some welcome the Malagasy government’s initiative to promote traditional values and advocate abstinence. According to them, girls who become pregnant are often marginalized and excluded from Malagasy society. By educating young people about the right attitudes to adopt and encouraging them to concentrate on their studies, we hope to avoid early pregnancies and the harmful social consequences that result from them.
However, for others, the decision is a step backwards and ignores the advances made in sex education in recent years. They emphasize that young Malagasy people are sexually active from a young age and that promoting abstinence will not prevent them from having sex. On the contrary, they believe that early and comprehensive sexuality education is essential to enable young people to make informed decisions about sexuality, contraception and sexual health.
The director of the Malagasy NGO “C for C”, Sariaka Nantenaina, deplores the fact that the ministerial note excludes sex education from schools and limits it to extracurricular teaching. She also emphasizes that the National Education’s approach to sex education is insufficient, merely touching on certain subjects without real awareness or education on contraception. She also questions the “Malagasy values” argument used to justify abstinence, noting practices such as early marriage and cases of incestuous rape that contradict these values..
It is obvious that sex education is a complex and delicate subject which requires a balance between traditional values and the real needs of young people. It is essential to provide young people with the information they need to make informed and responsible decisions regarding sexuality and reproductive health. It remains to be seen how this ministerial note will be implemented and what its effects will be on young Malagasy people. Sex education is an important issue for the future of young people and it is important to find a balance between preserving cultural values and the reality of modern life.