A compilation video of aborted fetuses being poked and prodded by long metal instruments is being shown to students between the ages of 14 and 15 in government schools, a source told SideStreet Malta.

The anti-abortion demonstration has been taking place during religion lessons by a teacher who prefaces it with a short explanation about what abortion is and why it goes against the Catholic faith.

Then, as a video is loaded on the classroom whiteboard, students are warned that the clips contain “bloody and graphic material”.

“Those who feel uncomfortable seeing blood may leave the classroom,” the teacher allegedly cautions.

According to SideStreet Malta’s source, the video left quite the impact on one of his students who has been staunchly anti-abortion ever since watching those clips.

Therefore, it comes with no surprise that parents who don’t share these anti-choice beliefs are opposing such hyperbolic videos being shown to their kids in order to make decisions about complex topics for them.

“There was no room for discussion, reflection or even explanation to the students about what they had just been shown. How is this in any way educational to a 14/15 year old student?,” Parents For Choice said.

“Whilst we reiterate that every single individual has the right to their own opinion and understand that a religion lesson is unlikely to teach a pro-choice stance, we cannot understand how a video with such unrealistic and not truthful to today’s realities of women and young girls can be shown by any teacher in any school?” It continued.

Today, 92% of abortions everywhere happen by week 12 meaning that they would be done through medicinal means, according to the organisation.

This means that whatever’s being shown to these children is extremely unrealistic.

“Have parents been advised, and is consent requested prior to showing such graphic material? Surely there is a rating to this video, since we as parents follow these ratings before we let our children view them,” the group said.

It further asked Caruana whether there is some sort of procedure where a teacher should submit such a video to the education ministry for approval prior to asking the parents’ permission considering the graphic images and what they imply.

“This type of movie seems to serve only as an indoctrination tool, if not what is the educational value to it? How does it improve children’s competence when it comes to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights? A reference to the peer research used would be greatly appreciated.”

They concluded their email urging the appropriate persons to immediately review the “very outdated” Sexual Health and Reproductive Health policy that was last updated 12 years ago.

Do you think that this video should be shown in schools?