Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/254848
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2014 News 4 TECHNICAL ATTACHE` Guidelines to address sex taboo in schools launched JAMES J. PISCOPO THE minister for education, Evar- ist Bartolo, yesterday morning launched guidelines on sexualit y education, saying that it was "un- acceptable" that this subject was a taboo in certain schools. A study carried out in 2010 by Sexual Health expert Dr Roder- ick Bugeja estimated that 12% of Form 3 and Form 4 students were sexually active, with a third of these students being under the in- f luence of alcohol and other sub- stances. Experts believe the per- centage is much higher nowadays. "Status quo was not an alterna- tive. We cannot say that this prob- lem does not exist," Bartolo said, adding "the 500 single parents be- tween the age of 16 and 24 show otherwise". "Nowadays students are easily exposed to sex and pornography. Schools need to note this realit y and address it," the minister said. The guidelines aim to help teachers to gain a clearer direc- tion when interpreting the curric- ulum and it offers a framework for an effective and comprehensive sexualit y education within differ- ent schools and colleges. The guidelines should also help teachers to use sound judgment on when and how to use different materials in class. "This means that a teacher that brings a condom to school for a lesson would not find himself in trouble with the school adminis- tration," the minister remarked. The guidelines read that the displaying of different contracep- tives used will give the students a better idea of what they look like, their appropriate use and their ef- fectiveness. Bartolo said this sexual educa- tion will be given in the context of solid relationships. Abstinence and postponement will be pro- moted, as well as the importance of healthy relationships. Asked whether the challenge to address sexualit y education will now be more problematic with the introduction of co-ed schools, the Minister said that in certain top- ics such as those covering physical development, boys and girls will be separated in order to create a more private environment. "One may not feel comfortable to ask certain questions in the pres- ence of the other sex," he said. However, the Education Minis- ter insisted that co-education is nothing extraordinary or contro- versial. "We are just bringing our educa- tion structure back to normal. It is a system that encourages mu- tual respect to the other sex. In Canada, the Church just decided to adopt the co-ed structure in Church schools as well," he said. The guidelines demand teachers to answer all questions in an hon- est and non-judgmental way, and refrain from making up answers to questions they are not sure of. They are also told to protect students who disclose personal information by stopping further disclosure and following up the case after the lesson. Similarly, teachers are prohib- ited from giving personal details or experiences. Evarist Bartolo (second from left) explained that the guidelines will serve as a framework for an effective and comprehensive sex education Government to start screening for cervical cancer JAMES J. PISCOPO THE government will commence free screening for cervical cancer, Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia announced yesterday morning. Addressing the media and staff of Paul Boffa's hospital on the occa- sion of World Cancer Day, Farrugia said the government's commitment to fighting cancer led to the intro- duction of this screening. The Health Minister did provide give any time frames, although MaltaToday is informed that this screening will start by the end of this year. Cervical cancer could be consid- ered as being relatively uncommon, with around 10-15 cases reported per year in Malta. It has a survival rate of around 40-50%. The survival rate is higher in women diagnosed at a younger age. According to several medical ex- perts, cervical cancer can be effec- tively prevented by means of regu- lar screening tests. Farrugia also announced that when Boffa hospital is transferred to the new oncology centre in Mater Dei by the end of this year, breast- screening facilities will be strength- ened. Radiotherapy equipment will increase from one to three, and medical staff who graduated from Cardiff and Leeds will be serving at the new oncology centre. He said that the 2015-2020 screening policy was already being devised. According to official statistics, one in every four deaths in Malta was caused by cancer in recent years. Speaking before the minister, Michelle Muscat underlined the importance for women to accept screening invitations, saying more awareness was needed to address misunderstandings about cancer. The Prime Minister's wife also thanked the staff for their work and dedication. Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia Fantasy Tours is officially declared 'bankrupt' CHRIS MANGION THE First Hall of the Civil Courts has dissolved Golden Travel Club Ltd de- claring the company bankrupt and in liquidation. The company operated the travel agency Fantasy Tours, however the company sought a declaration of bankruptcy after cancelling clients' holidays through an SMS on 7 August 2013. The SMS informed the clients that the company had closed down and that their holidays planned through Fantasy Tours could not materialise. The previous day, on 6 August, the company director had phoned his outlets telling staff not to take more bookings. On 8 August 2013, the shareholders claimed that all efforts by the company to maximise sales during the summer proved futile. The lack of sales landed Golden Travel Club Ltd in an unten- able position, making it impossible for the company to pay its due. The owners, Karl Azzopardi and his wife Audrey, requested the court to declare their company bankrupt and in liquidation. They explained how they had put all available investment towards the company however there was no hope for recovery. Taking the witness stand, auditor Paul Marmara informed the court that even if someone injected a vast sum of capital in Golden Travel Club, the company would still have floun- dered as it was beyond rescue. "The blame lay with the company's insistence on selling tours to Corfu even though clients said they would not book because of a warning issued by the Consumer Affairs Authority against Fantasy Tours," he said. Azzopardi had taken upon himself commitments with airlines and hotels that had to be honoured even if the tours were not sold. Corfu tours gen- erated a total income of €53,900 but expenditure added up to €140,000, leaving the company with a loss of €38,000. In 2013 the company's ex- penses totalled €195,000. Choosing to give evidence in his own case, Karl Azzopardi reiterated that he would have paid any price to save his company, a belief which cost him his self esteem, his public image and hundreds of thousands of his personal fortune. Azzopardi claimed that he had even refrained from cash- ing his salary cheques for a number of months. "I approached Mondial Travel and Britannia Tours. I even had a foreign investor interested in a merger, but they all turned me down," the bank- rupt director said. Mr Justice Joseph Zammit McKeon