Kuppet opposes Bill to introduce contraceptives in schools

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has vowed to oppose attempts to introduce condoms and birth control pills to school children.

Kuppet national chairman Omboko Milemba instead asked the government to expand the curriculum to include sex education.

“Introducing condoms and birth control pills in schools will be a wrong move and we will not support it,” Mr Milemba said Sunday.

The Reproductive Health Care Bill to be debated by the Senate this week.

The Bill by nominated Senator Judith Sijeny seeks to make it possible for school children to access to contraceptives.

The Bill if passed, will be the first legislation in the country to recognise that children as young as ten are sexually active and therefore need to get access to comprehensive reproductive health services and products without their parents’ consent.

Mr Milemba lamented that the Senator had not involved all stakeholders in the education sector in coming up with the Bill.

He asked Ms Sijeny to withdraw the Bill in its current form and seek the input of other players in the education sector.

Several education experts have also opposed the content of the Bill saying that it will encourage immorality.

“Our curriculum only allows children to be taught responsible sexual behaviour and not to be sexually active by giving them birth control pills and condoms,” said Kenya National Union of Teachers executive secretary Wilson Sossion.