WE NEED BETTER SEX EDUCATION!

WE NEED BETTER SEX EDUCATION!

Young people constantly pick up sexual messages, many of  them ones that do not promote healthy sexuality, including commercial messages that are in the interest of advertisers, and  misinformation from their peers. Avoiding talking about sexuality  only teaches young people to feel uncomfortable about sexuality.

A  research has revealed that most young people (93%) learn about sex and sexual health from school-based sexuality education programs. Family members were also found to be a significant source of information at 61 per cent. However, students reported low levels of confidence to discuss sexuality with parents.

With the research telling us that school children are turning to schools and their families for reliable information, it is important to support schools and parents to do the best job they can.

Many young people are sexually active in some way and this has increased over the last decade. Research reports two issues of concern:

• a low level of consistent condom use
• increased rates of unwanted sex, particularly in relation to alcohol use.

There are numerous competing messages about sexuality in the world. Many are misinformed and sensationalist, yet are often presented in highly communicative styles, through pop videos, advertisements, internet blogs, mobile phones, films, reality TV and television serials.

The primary purpose of many of these messages is to sell a product, not to equip young people with what they need to know for a healthy and fulfilling adult life.

Young people can make good decisions about their sexual health if education policies, programs and services are available to help them.

 

To be meaningful for all, it is essential to ensure learning and teaching in school-based sexuality education programs recognise and respond to the diversity of student needs. Forms of diversity include sexual orientation, gender, culture, religion and disability.

As you see a good sex education is very important, especially because it’s not just helping teenagers to understand how their body works, and learn what a healthy sexual life is but it can also help to decrease the rates of unintended pregnancies among teenagers.