The Abstinence programme, a brainchild of the late Fr Michael Moses and instituted by the Catholic Education Board of Management with the blessings of the Ministries of Education and Health, is up and running at the Arima Girls' RC School.

On Saturday, April 12, parents of the POST SEA classes were introduced to the programme. The day's proceedings, managed by the heads of department and the SEA teachers, were blessed by Arima parish priest Msgr Christian Pereira, the school's manager.

The feature speaker was the passionate Dr Peter Gentle whose talk shocked many parents. He impressed upon them though, that all was not lost as they have the power to stem the tide of promiscuity and disease that appears rampant among our nation’s youth. He fielded many questions.

After a short break, parents were involved in a workshop that dealt with such issues as HIV and AIDS, the jargon of sex, Internet usage and communication. Group presentations concluded the day's session.

Parents were unanimous that this programme should be taught in all primary schools and that it should start sooner than post SEA. They left with an invitation to return to view a film about AIDS on Saturday, May 17.