EGYPT: NO SEX EDUCATION PLEASE, WE'RE ARAB

EgyptAEs education ministry has instructed schools not to teach lessons on "reproduction and propagation methods", "pollination and fertilisation" genetics, and anatomical illustrations of the male and female reproductive systems. Teachers were ordered to disregard chapters on th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inGlobal Information Network
Main Author McGrath, Cam
Format Newsletter
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Global Information Network 22.11.2010
Subjects
Wahba, Mamdouh
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Summary:EgyptAEs education ministry has instructed schools not to teach lessons on "reproduction and propagation methods", "pollination and fertilisation" genetics, and anatomical illustrations of the male and female reproductive systems. Teachers were ordered to disregard chapters on these subjects in existing biology textbooks, and new textbooks have been printed that omit the lessons. "Definitely there will be social and health consequences," says Dr. Amal Abdel Hadi, an outspoken advocate of reproductive health rights. "There will be more misconceptions about sex, marital disharmony and sexual harassmenta and the prevalence of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) will increase." "In the 1960s and 1970s, when people discussed sexuality the focus was on good and bad relationships," she told IPS. "Now it is only about what is halal (permissible) or haram (sinful), which moves the whole issue into the religious realm."