The recent reported cases of illicit sexual activities involving students are indeed alarming and definitely, action must be taken to address this pressing issue.
This afternoon, Savusavu police reported a sodomy case involving 6 youths who terrorized a 7 year-old boy’s life. That is indeed sick and very disturbing news.
The Education Ministry is calling on parents, teachers, village and community elders and religious leaders, to take pro-active measures for the sake of protecting our children from this societal ill.
On the same note, the Ministry is grateful to the Police Force’s support in monitoring night clubs and play centre's to ensure students are kept away from these places.
To ensure our kids are guided and protected from illicit activities, the Ministry recommends the following measures for families:
- consistent family devotion times where God’s word is shared and nurtured in our children so that they are guided in the right direction
- more quality family time where sensitive issues, which affect children today, are discussed with solutions
- close monitoring of children’s whereabouts
- choose friends wisely- all-weather friends would be great
- learn about the risks of HIV/AIDS and how it affects people living with the virus
- be aware of the consequences of teenage pregnancies- how it robs teens of their childhood and their future as productive adults
- engage students in worthwhile community projects or activities
- assist parents in household chores- cleaning up, gardening, run errands, etc
- allocate time for revision, reading notes, exercises
- research- to broaden one’s knowledge; this can be conducted in a library or through the internet
- students to enroll in a holiday class in either computing or a subject of interest and finally
- students could look for holiday jobs as this could supplement family income and at the same time, could assist the students to pay for their educational expenses next year.
Finally the Ministry hopes that our children, during this holiday period, will be constantly engaged in activities that should be meaningful and rewarding and more importantly, keep them safe and off trouble.
Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Filipe Bole