Govt. reviewing all subjects as part of education reform, says minister
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands said this week that the time has come for increased sex education among young people in The Bahamas, Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd said as a part of the government’s effort to reform education, all subjects are being reviewed.
He indicated, however, that there is an existing family life curriculum that address sexual relations within the schools.
Speaking to reporters outside the Churchill Building, Lloyd said, “We have a family life curriculum now, which includes the issue of reproductive health and so on.
“There is no need for us to.”
Sands recommended increased education on sex following a recent public health report which showed an uptick in sexually transmitted diseases in young persons in The Bahamas.
“We are prepared to discuss a lot of things in this country; like who ‘ga’ win Junkanoo and other things, but when it comes down to critical issues of health and other things we get very, very quiet,” the health minister told Eyewitness News.
When Sands made the suggestion, he noted that it was not his intention to enter the purview of other ministries.
Yesterday, the education minister said the government’s mandate includes education reform and all subject matters are being reviewed including family life education.
“That is very much underway and obviously all subject matters are under review, so that it can be relevant for the 21stcentury,” Lloyd said.
“Family life education is one of those.
“So, absolutely we are looking at everything involving reproductive health, particularly in an era when there is so many sexually transmitted diseases.
According the Department of Public Health Surveillance Unit and STI Clinic, there were 2,616 people in The Bahamas who tested positive for syphilis at least once during between 2014 and 2018.
The report indicated that during the period, cases increased by 63 per cent, from 439 in 2014 to 714 in 2018.
It also noted that there were 816 cases of chlamydia and 186 cases of gonorrhea
Infection in 2017.
In 2018, there were 1,004 cases of chlamydia and 265 cases of gonorrhea.