A Non-Governmental Organisation, Value Female Network (VFN) has adduced reason the committee allegedly set up by the Osun Education Quality Assurance and Morality Enforcement Agency may not succeed in tackling the spate of teenage pregnancies in the schools in Osun state.
The Coordinator of the youth-led organisation, Miss Costly Aderibigbe in a statement she signed and made available to our correspondent said since the problem is with young persons, a better means of tackling the menace lies with youths whom she said would have better relationship with school girls and boys.
Aderibigbe said that concerned students may withdraw into their shells if nothing concrete is done to urgently to address the ugly development.
The coordinator of VFN said the Organisation had already commenced sex education and awareness in some schools in the state stressing that state government should invest in the programmes and support sexual and reproductive health needs of the adolescents.
On how the government can effectively tackle teenage pregnancies among school girls, Aderibigbe said: “the best solution is for government to invest in programmes that support adolescent Sexual and reproductive health needs.”
“Most importantly, the government should incorporate comprehensive sexuality education into the curriculum and those (teachers) that would be taken the course should be trained thoroughly to give accurate information about it.”
“The government should also build youth friendly centers that can serve the purpose of recreation and information dissemination for young people. It is disheartening that there is no youth friendly center in Osun state unlike in other states like Lagos that has 16 youth friendly centers.”
“The more reason why the committee set up by Dr. Isiaka Owoade led agency will not work is that young people are not included in the committee; adolescents themselves that could explain the cause of the situation are not included. Also, a youth focused/led orgaizations like VFN is not part of the committee.”
” VFN is an NGO of young people and we can best address our challenges bause we relate more with other young people than we do with adult especially when it comes to sexuality issues. This is why we have taken the bulls by its horn by carrying out campaigns against teenage sexual practises and sex education. We were at Christ Ambassador school on Thursday an we made some discoveries that will assist us in winning this battle.”
“So the committee set up should be all inclusive and government should depart from doing the same method over the years without significant improvement.”
“We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a better result. Teachers and clerics and older counselors cannot perfectly relate with young people. The student will only revert to their shell,” she said.
She therefore tasked government to collaborate with VFN to restore values, discipline and social decorum in Osun schools.
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