Joe Oroye

Bishop Joseph Idowu Fearon is of the Anglican Diocese, Kaduna.

WT: Sir, there is a proposed sexuality education curriculum being put together by the Federal Ministry of Education in conjunction with some national and international bodies, including the World Bank.

What is the position of the church on this?

Fearon: I think basically my initial reaction is this. There's no way any legislation can remove the parental responsibility for sexuality education.

Education begins from the home and the best schools and even churches and mosques can do is to build on what has been taught at home. So there is no one who can legislate on sexuality education outside or to legislate that the responsibility of parents should not be taken over by schools. That is not possible.

So as a Christian, and I believe also of my Muslims neighbours, the basic responsibility for sexuality education still lies with the parents. And when we talk in terms of parents, we are going back to what the Imams and the Pastors teach their followers in the churches, and in the mosques that influence the home education that is in the area of education and in any other things.

So I am in support of schools, colleges being given this responsibility as well as that of the parents. You cannot say that because the schools will now be teaching these aspects then the responsibility of parents is taken away from them, only foolish parents would say, 'well you are being taught this in the school therefore I would not teach you.'

And the way things are going today in the world one cannot run away from the impact of globalisation. Our children have access to the internet. they have access to CNN, BBC World and the Arab channels. no matter how you control your children they are exposed to these things.

Therefore I still believe that we need our country to be opened as far as sexuality education is concerned.

Let the children know the outcome of having sex outside marriage. The days are gone when sex is a secret. So to answer your question directly, I support schools being given every encouragement to teach our children. however, that should be secondary to the roles of parents in the homes.

WT: The fear being expressed by some Nigerians are how these children are going to be taught especially when you talk of female and male external genitals, parts of the body that cause stimulation, sexual excitement for example: touching of hands, back, cheek, armpit, ribs and so on. don't you think all these could be dangerous to primary and secondary school students?

Fearon: Again my opinion probably may sound radical. I believe we under-estimate the intelligence of these children. You see, if you and I, because you are a Christian and I am a Muslim or you are a Muslim I am a Christian we refrain from allowing our children to learn these things and see the effect of ignorance, you and I will regret it.

Rather, I would support the idea of letting our children see the effect of these things on them. That is my position. When we say we are going to shield our children from seeing these things the way they are, we are only feeding them with ignorance.

Now if we hold on to the old ways you and I were brought up by our parents, these children, because of globalisation will see these things elsewhere and instead of being properly taught they would be taught the wrong things and we would regret it.

WT: Sir, the curriculum will be explicit on how the father inserts his penis into the mother's vagina to show how babies are produced?

Fearon: Well, there are those who would want to go to that extent, and I believe this is where as a country that takes religion very seriously, this is where we need to make our fears known and get men and women who have their religious practices involved in the teaching of our children in the area of sexuality education.

We must not leave it to those who have no religious values. I think we need to put our foot down and insist that the church and the mosque be involved, and we must be involved in the recruitment of men and women who will be given the responsibility. If we don't do that and we leave it to the freethinkers, there would be trouble.

WT: Another fear is the practical aspects, like demonstrating it through projectors or videos.

Fearon: Well, I believe deeply in my heart that sexuality education cannot go that way and must not encourage that aspect. I mean that must be put off. It is not right. we are not encouraging pornography because we know what the practical aspect of sexuality education means, and no nation that is worth its salt would encourage pornography. I will not call it practical, I would call that pornography and that would have an adverse effect on the children. This is the area where I believe men and women who have faith should stand up.

WT: The curriculum approves abortion. It will teach students that abortion is safe when done by a trained medical professional since they would do it correctly and would not create as much risk. What is your stand on this?

Fearon: I am totally against abortion on demand. Saying 'I don't want this child, so terminate the pregnancy,' that is murder. I would rather prevent that pregnancy. That is my position. abortion for me is murder. However, I know some people argue that if the life of the mother is in danger, the pregnancy could be terminated. that is a matter of opinion.

But I would rather prevent the pregnancy by abstaining or using condom or whatever. that is my position. but abortion on demand, my religion is against it.

WT: Lastly what is your advice on this proposal?

Fearon: I believe the proposal is good as long as it does not remove the responsibility for sexuality education from the parents, it should start from the home. this proposal is secondary to me. if I fail to educate my children and I say the school should do it, I am sinning against God because they will not be properly taught. I see this proposal as an addition to the responsibility of the parents.

What I want to call for is that as parents we must teach our children sexuality education the way our religions teach us. It is also the role of the church and the mosque to educate. when you educate the parents, the parents will educate their children.

I mean if my child is in the class and the teacher says he is going to do pornography, my child will walk out, but I assure you that is because I have taught my children.

So we should never relinquish our responsibility to the schools. I think we expect too much from the schools and that is why our children are behaving the way they are behaving today.

You must know your children and I think some don't even know their children. so we need to go back to the home and this is where the role of religion is very cardinal.