THE summer term or semester of any given school year is always filled with numerous activities. These activities range from graduations to the sitting of internal and external examinations. Students are kept busy as they make the transition from secondary to tertiary studies, from secondary studies to the world of work, or from tertiary studies to the world of work. Whichever category the student finds himself in, it’s always with a sense of trepidation given the unknown which lies ahead.

Many students, particularly teenagers, have invested many hours studying. Some of this time is spent in study groups in an effort to be successful in their examinations. Many parents and guardians also have invested heavily in their children’s welfare, whether it’s in the form of tuition or school fees, lunch money, examination fees, food, shelter and clothing. Like any relationship, trust and communication are very important; the parent-child relationship is no different.

Adolescence is that phase of life between childhood and adulthood. It is usually characterised by a period of exploitation and opportunity. For many teenagers this is a most appropriate time to deceive their parents about the need to study. Most of us have been there. Have you ever told your parents a fib? If you are honest you would have answered, “Yes.” Many parents have a soft heart once their child comes to them with a story about studying, whether at a public place such as the library, Devon House or Hope Gardens, or in a private space somewhere, so will gladly give their consent. However, parents and guardians must be aware that in some instances these group study sessions are not what they appear to be.

Group sex has become very popular not only in the United States of America but also here in Jamaica. An alarming number of teenagers are indulging and have been caught up in group sex. According to the Jamaica Reproductive Health Survey, the average age for a male to have his first sexual experience is 12.4 years and for girls it is 14.7 years. This is indeed very troubling, given the dire consequences which may result from early sexual initiation. The earlier teenagers start having sex, the less likely they are to use contraceptives. Without the use of contraceptives, pregnancies many occur, so too HIV-AIDS transmission

The views expressed on and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

The teenage girl may be forced into a situation of having an abortion done in order to continue her studies. The teenage boy, not equipped to take on the responsibilities of fatherhood, may be forced to drop out of school in search of a job to care for his child or he may just choose to continue with his studies. While we do not have the data in Jamaica to clearly state to what extent group sex impacts our teenage population, data from the USA is available. In a recent study of sexual activity in teens by the Boston University School of Public Health, researchers found that as many as one in 13 teenage girls surveyed said they had participated in group sex. According to the same research, 7.3 per cent of teens, aged 14 to 20 years, have had multi-person sex (MPS), ranging from gang rape to sex parties, and 45 per cent of teens reported that at least one person in the group did not use a condom.

The issues of rape and sexual violence are also raised in the context of group sex parties, since it is very unlikely that the victim would give consent to multiple individuals having sex with her. Parents and guardians need to inform their teenagers of the many dangers which are always present in the society. Teenagers too must be sensible and careful in their choice of friends. They must take responsibility for their safety and be prepared to face the consequences of sexual irresponsibility.

It is clear that parents and guardians need to pay more attention to their teens. Parents, you need to know where your child is going to study. Investigate the other teens in the study group. Know your child’s friends as well as their parents. Parents need to inform themselves before they give consent for any group study. Parents should develop and sustain an open line of communication with their children so that they will feel comfortable enough to tell you what is happening in their life. Parents, talk to your children about sex; if you don’t, someone else will. The Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees each child the right to privacy. However, if your children tell you they are going to study and a quick search of their bags reveal no books, and your gut feeling tells you something is wrong, then something is probably wrong.

Parents, don’t allow the right to privacy to prevent you from doing what you must.

The Boston University School research also revealed that a significant number of the teens reported alcohol use at these group sex encounters. We all know that alcohol impairs one’s judgement; we therefore can make an association with alcohol consumption and low contraceptive use at these group sex parties. In many societies, including Jamaica’s, alcohol is not viewed in the same category as hard drugs, such as cocaine. It is easy for a teen in Jamaica to gain access to alcohol; we clearly need to revisit how we can make it more difficult for our teens to gain access to alcohol. More public service announcements are needed about the negative effects of alcohol consumption. To some extent alcohol consumption is a marker from childhood to adulthood for many males and indeed females.

Much more investigation is needed into the sub-group of Multi-Person Sex. Who are the teenagers that are most likely to be in this group? Are males more at risk of being involved in this sub-group than females? We need to educate our children from as early as primary school about issues of this nature and in so doing prepare them for all eventualities.

As we celebrate Child Month this should serve as a warning to some parents and guardians, and as a reminder for others the next time your child or ward comes asking for your consent to attend a group study session. Teenagers will always seek out and exploit parents regarding opportunities to have sex, among other things; however, parents must be more vigilant regarding their children’s welfare. As we approach the summer holidays also, there is likely to be an increase in parties which, in many instances, will be unsupervised. Do your background checks, parents, before answering in the affirmative since your child’s next group study session might well be a group sex session.

Wayne Campbell is an educator.

waykam@yahoo.com