education in schools to stop the spread of AIDS.

WHO, on the eve of World AIDS Day, released a report last week saying sex education frequently persuaded young people to delay the start of sexual activity, have fewer partners, and to use condoms.

It said frank and open discussion before teenagers became sexually active was most effective and did not apparently increase promiscuity.

Noting that about half of some 13 million people infected with the AIDS virus are between the ages of 15 and 24, Dr. Michael Merson of the WHO's Global Programme on AIDS said: "In many ways it is youth which is driving this epidemic. We don't want our youth to die of ignorance''.

And Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira agreed.

He told The Royal Gazette the Ministry now has two education officers responsible for sex education in schools.

But he added: "We have to zero in on the question of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) because to my horror among young people between the ages of 14 and 17 there are almost 200 cases. That's disturbing.

"What we really have to get across is that we really treasure our young people and we don't want to lose any of them. But unless we educate them, we're going to lose some.'' Dr. Terceira said the real responsibility lies with parents first.

But, he noted, some parents do not have the ability to talk to their children about abstinence or protecting themselves.

"So constantly the school has to take on this responsibility,'' he said. "We recognise that we have to step up sexual education in schools, but with the basic theme of abstinence first, then safer sex, because it is a matter of do or die.'' Dr. Terceira said while young people in their own view are immortal, he believed that the anti-AIDS advertising campaign and recent teen forums put on by the local AIDS Day Committee were effective.

He said his Ministry was still in the process of looking at how to improve the teaching of sexuality in schools.

"I think we've made tremendous leaps on that,'' Dr. Terceira said, "but we still have a way to go.'' AIDS and sex counsellor Miss Margaret Swift and Education Officer Mr. Ray Latter, who recently completed the Health Department's Train The Trainers course in AIDS, will work with teachers to better equip them in such areas, he added.

Dr. Terceira is also scheduled to meet again with the National PTA and the Association of School Principals on the issue of making condoms available in schools.