Sex education: a matter for all
Sex education: a matter for all |
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Introduction
Sex education is essential for everybody. If people are to make responsible decisions about their lives, they need to be well informed. Since this is the case, whose responsibility is it to ensure that the education is delivered effectively? Several groups and individuals need to be considered.
School teachers and governing bodies
Schoolteachers and governing bodies have to work within the guidelines of the national curriculum, which is laid down by the ministry of education. This is usually monitored by OFSTED. Teachers are one of the groups that can influence children before they become sexually active. This is by teaching about love, care and the responsibilities that go with being involved in a loving relationship and not just about sex. Teachers can also ensure that the focus is not placed primarily on girls and that the boys' needs are also met. Teachers and governing bodies should be working in partnership with parents, consulting with them regularly on the content of sex and relationship education programmes.
Parents
Research shows that children and young people want to receive their initial sex and relationship education from their parents with schools and other adults building on this later (1). Parents are able to maintain the attitude and ethos of the family. They can help their children deal with the emotional and physical aspects of growing up. In this, they are preparing the children for the challenges and responsibilities that sexual maturity brings. It must be remembered that parents may need support in their role as sex educators and Low Hall Primary School in Wigan, England recognised this and arranged a 6 week training course for parents to help them overcome any embarrassment in talking to their children about sex education. The course proved to be a huge success and there is now a waiting list for the next course (2). Parents also have the right to remove their children from part or all of the sex and relationship education offered in schools.
Peer groups
Teenage parents, young adults from the same cultural backgrounds, young people living with HIV, young people living with disabilities can all talk about their experiences. They can offer advice and support. The peer groups involved are usually given some training to help them deliver sex education and to enable them to effectively support other young people. Peer education can be very popular with young people, as it is a way of delivering information in a non-threatening secure environment. These people are best used to compliment rather than act as substitute to conventional teaching methods.
Youth workers
Street and Out-reach workers, youth club workers, young peoples' confidential advisory services are often able to form open and quite unique relationships with children and young people. This provides a good forum for effective sexual health promotion.
Social Workers
Both residential and field social workers have their parts to play. Currently there is a major government Initiative called Quality Protects aiming to improve the life chances of children and young people in public care. They are working in partnership with foster carers, parents, teachers and health professionals to improve the health and education of children and young people in public care.
Health Professionals
Healthcare professionals can help in the development and implementation of sex education programmes. This will involve working closely with teachers in supporting sex education in their schools thereby complementing the roles of the teachers. They can help schools work in partnership with parents to make links between other relevant professionals such as general practitioners, genitourinary medicine clinics, family planning clinics etc. Other roles include helping young people gain the confidences that will enable them utilise the relevant services when appropriate. They
can also provide up to date knowledge about sexual health, well being and contraception.
Media
The media has the ability to capture a much wider audience encompassing all ages, sexual orientations, cultures, disabilities, social classes etc. This can be through TV, Radio, Magazines, Leaflets, Books, Cinema, Websites, Roadshows etc.
Conclusion
Sexual health is a huge area. Whilst I am aware that I have only looked at sex and relationship education with children and young people I am aware that there are many adults out there who are also in need of appropriate sexual health education. Without this, how can we expect them to help, support, and encourage the youth of today who will be the adults of tomorrow.
References
1. Department for Education and Employment. Sex and Relationship Education Guidance. DfEE 0116/2000.
2. Sex Health News. Volume 3/2004.
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