Egypt to tackle overpopulation with ‘2 children only’ plan

[DJKeefy]

Egypt’s government announced this week the implementation of a plan to control the nation’s booming population rate under a campaign called “Egypt development: Two children only.”

Health Minister Ahmed Emad Eddin met this week with Egypt’s governors to announce the plan to control population growth in each province, while studying the demographic situation of each governorate and possible mechanisms for birth control.

Fighting illiteracy, unemployment and poverty were discussed as ways to tackle the population boom.

The plan as yet does not mention applying a strict child-control policy that would stop families from having more than two children, as the name of the campaign suggests.

“Contraception is the last thing we can rely on in the population strategy,” El-Masry El-Youm newspaper quoted Emad Eddin as saying.

“In the beginning, it is necessary to eliminate the dropout in education to prevent early marriage and employ females.”

He stressed the significant role religious institutions in Egypt could play by spreading awareness of the population crisis. “Either the population increase continues to destroy Egypt or the crisis is solved,” he said.

Local Development Minister Hisham El-Sherif said population control is tied to solving Egypt’s high illiteracy rates, unemployment levels and poverty.

Egypt’s population is increasing by 2.04 million people annually, he said, adding that the country would need 20,000 nurseries in the coming three years, and half a million homes in 22 years, if population growth levels remain the same.

Consecutive governments have announced initiatives to control the population boom. The campaign’s name has raised eyebrows about whether Egypt is on the verge of applying a strict two-child policy. Such a policy has been raised by lawmakers several times.

Population expert Ayman Zohry said this campaign, like previous ones, calls for limiting the number of children per family.

“The government is appealing to Egyptians to abide by family planning, but there are no clear restrictions to be implemented on having more than two children,” he told Arab News.

Attempts to force parents not to have more children are unlikely to work in Egypt, and “negative incentives” would not succeed, Zohry said.

“The government adopts a method of preaching national responsibility by telling parents that they should abide by family planning. But education remains key to containing a population boom,” he added.

“It’s with education that families will understand… the responsibilities associated with raising a child, sending them to school and fulfilling their needs.”

Education will also help families, especially those in rural areas, understand that family planning is not forbidden by religion, Zohry added.

Source: http://www.arabnews.com/node/1180401/middle-east

[newcastle]

Population growth is Egypt's biggest problem, underlying, as it does, many other problems. Everyone seems to agree..

And education is probably the best hope of tackling this problem. A more educated population can better understand the issues and greater employment of women would exercise a natural restraint on child-bearing. Again, everyone seems to agree.

The why oh why is Egypt spending vast amounts of money on "status" projects whilst it's education system is not fit for purpose. In percentage of GDP terms, Egypt spends roughly half as much on education as more developed countries.

One could be forgiven for suspecting the ruling elite do not relish the prospect of a more educated population....now that the country has at least the trappings of democracy.

[Dusak]

If they do attempt to implement this rule, then I could see happening here, given the same mindset, what China experienced over the twenty years they had the ''one child'' only rule. Its estimated that over one million female babies were killed as being unwanted, the boy child, like here, more important to the families long term survival. If they can't encourage birth control, a better option in my view, then they will have very little chance of this proposal. My friend tells me that this would not be the first time the government has attempted to do this, it failed then as I'm sure it will fail again.

[newcastle]

I'm not sure there's much similarity between the mindset of the Chinese and Egyptians regarding children...other than a preference for boys.

There's no suggestion that the government is contemplating mandatory restrictions akin to China's "one child" policy....nor do I think that would be acceptable in Egypt. The idea of infanticide would be deeply repugnant to this conservative/religious society.

Likewise birth control alone is not the answer. It's already encouraged by the government...but is not to be relied upon, as the Health Minister acknowledged.

[hatusu]

The main problem here is that children are looked upon as an Old Age Insurance Policy. Who else is going to look after them when they are no longer able to look after themselves? Not the government.
I dont know anything about China - did elderly people get pensions there? Or did the one and only child take on the responsibilty of care for both parents when they were no longer able to work?

[newcastle]

The main problem here is that children are looked upon as an Old Age Insurance Policy. Who else is going to look after them when they are no longer able to look after themselves? Not the government.
I dont know anything about China - did elderly people get pensions there? Or did the one and only child take on the responsibilty of care for both parents when they were no longer able to work?

The concept of filial piety may be deeply embed in the Chinese psyche, but changing demographics have rendered the ability of parents to rely on their children in old age as often simply impossible. It's a major issue for the Chinese State as the State provisions are modest (pension-wise) and the institutions available are inadequate to cope with the numbers. Institutions are there....but children may have to contribute financially if they can.

There are even"orphanages" for the elderly abandoned by their families.

An elderly Chinese couple would probably have more faith in a daughter looking after them , than a son.

The government does step in where filial support is unavailable.

[newcastle]

Here's a "novel" solution to Egypt's population problem.

A non-governmental organization based in Upper Egypt’s governorate of Minya recently drafted a suggested law in an attempt to control the unprecedented over population in the country....PROCREATION LICENCES.

I quote :

"The draft law stipulates that newlywed couples would be given a five-year license from the government that allows them to have only one child within the period, which could then be renewed for another five years, allowing the couple to have one more child, the head of JDHR (The Justice and Development for Human Rights....would you believe! ) Nady Atef told Egypt Independent on Tuesday.

“We aim through this draft law to put end to the overpopulation phenomenon in Egypt after the population reached 104.2 million people…the license is given to all the newly married couples and is up for renewal, with violators being subjected to punitive measures from the state,” he said.

Nady explained that punitive measures that would be taken if the law is violated include the couple being deprived of state-subsidized services including food and education.

“Violators may also face the possibility of paying fines to the government — and they would be deprived from obtaining the ‘procreation license’ for at least the following five years,” he added."

http://www.egyptindependent.com/procrea ... opulation/

Depriving people of education - the one possible route out of the dilemma - is extraordinarily shortsighted, even by Egyptian standards.

Another totally barmy, and unworkable idea. I hope whoever funds this NGO thinks their money is being well spent.

[Dusak]

I just hope its better for them than our ******* visa system.