The Committee for Social Affairs, together with Dr Angela Abela, has stressed the importance of education to promote healthy relationships, citing the following worrying statistics:

“… 30% of births in 2006 were conceived outside marriage … Local studies show the difficulties encountered by parents at a young age … that adolescents want to know more about the relationships”

“… A study in the University of Malta shows how 99.8% of students do not see anything wrong in cohabiting and 42% perceive cohabitation as a step to marriage …”

“… An increasing number of reports of casual sex due to excessive drinking … 21% of young people date persons they meet on the internet …”

“… Local research shows that 54% of mothers return to work after only six months after giving birth … this is a big change in our society … the parents should be training for the hazards that may be encountered with adolescents … “

Dr Abela said that the only way to counteract these figures is through the education and support of adolescents, young couples and young parents in order to instil proper family values.

Dr Abela added that such education should start in schools. Indeed, she said, research indicated that young people wanted to learn more on how to start, maintain, or end a relationship.

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