SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS: IMPORTANT OR NOT?

“HIGH SCHOOLS MUST PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ADEQUATE SEX EDUCATION BECAUSE NOW, IGNORANCE CAN BE HARMFUL”.

One of the much debated topics across the WORLD is the IMPORTANCE OF SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOL! Sex, is a SENSITIVE topic,that, as a rule is not usually discussed by parents with their children. Parents may feel often uncomfortable when asked by their CHILDREN about how children are conceived, and born and other related topics! But, DON’T YOU PEOPLE THINK ITS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT SEX EDUCATION TODAY? TELLING and EDUCATING OUR YOUTH/CHILDREN about the IMPORTANCE OF SEX EDUCATION? WHAT IS SEX EDUCATION? Well, there can be many benefits of knowing about this Important topic in today’s generation.

SEX EDUCATION refers to a BROAD PROGRAMME designed to impart KNOWLEDGE or TRAINING regarding values, attitudes, and practices affecting family relationships. The real PURPOSE behind SEX EDUCATION is the TRANSFIGURATION of a MALE CHILD into MANHOOD, and of a FEMALE CHILD into WOMANHOOD. It is the education that provides KNOWLEDGE on PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, MORAL, BEHAVIOURAL, and PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES and DEVELOPMENTS during PUBERTY. SEX EDUCATION is acquiring information about the DEVELOPMENT of our BODIES, SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR, SEXUAL CHARACTER. It teaches the ADOLESCENTS about the role of boys and girls in FAMILY and SOCIETY, RESPONSIBILITY and ATTITUDE of BOYS and GIRLS towards Each other, etc within SOCIAL CONTEXT.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? SEX EDUCATION aids people to get the INFORMATION, MOTIVATION, and ABILITIES to make the RIGHT DECISIONS about SEX and SEXUALITIES. Teenagers need this kind of information in order to make right Choices for themselves and to protect themselves. There is CONTROVERSY in whether SEX EDUCATION should be taught at SCHOOLS, but the fact that TEENAGERS are not aware of this information, leads to them making WRONG and BAD DECISION on account of their ignorance. Relying to that, we realize that SEX EDUCATION is IMPORTANT to be inserted in a person’s life. Therefore, SEX EDUCATION should be MANDATORY in HIGH SCHOOLS.

While, SCHOOLS DOING THEIR PARTS, PARENTS SHOULD ALSO start EDUCATING their CHILDREN about SEX EDUCATION, as early as possible. There are many debates between the VIEWS of PARENTS, regarding the AGE at which SEX EDUCATION should be introduced at SCHOOLS. There are some PARENT groups who considers that SEX EDUCATION should not start until grades 5 or 6. Whereas there are others who say that SEX EDUCATION should be taught to CHILDREN when they are in 3 or 4 grades. They find this age suitable for the children for giving knowledge about their SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR and BODIES. There are numerous reasons why SEX EDUCATION is RELEVANT!

SEX EDUCATION plays a RELEVANT role in children’s life as it would help them to understand their BODIES and not to be SURPRISED when their BODIES start changing during PUBERTY.

SEX EDUCATION plays a RELEVANT role in the REDUCTION of TEENAGE PREGNANCIES. It has been proven that SEX EDUCATION can help to scale down TEENAGE PREGNANCIES and BIRTHS. In 2002, researchers from the UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON did a study on heterosexual teens, aged 15-19. The results showed that 9% received no Education at all whereas 66% were taught SEX EDUCATION with mention of BIRTH CONTROL. The children who received this EDUCATION, were 60% less likely to become PREGNANT, or get someone else Pregnant, than those who received no EDUCATION at all. In this study, it is evident that SEX EDUCATION does help to reduce TEENAGE PREGNANCIES and That it should be taught. The INFORMATION you should get on SEX EDUCATION should be from APPROPRIATE SOURCES such as SCHOOLS. Getting the PROPER SEX EDUCATION needed, reduces the number of TEENAGERS with SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES(STDs).

The sole aim of such an EDUCATION would be to teach children to establish and accept the roles and Responsibilities of their own GENDER by acquiring the knowledge of SEX. Understanding the SIMILARITIES and DIFFERENCE BETWEEN two GENDERS, in terms of BODY and MIND will set up s foundation for the future development in their acquaintance with friends and lovers and their interpersonal relationships. An effective SEX EDUCATION at SCHOOL along with adequate COMMUNICATION between CHILDREN and PARENTS can bring about a lot of change, as it’s high time! One should talk about it openly.