school - based sex education, a need of the hour

chool-based sex educationcan be an important andeffective way of enhancing young people’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. There is widespread agreement that formal education should include sex education and what works has been well-researched. Evidence suggests that effective school programmes will include the following elements:
A focus on reducing specific risky behaviours;
A basis in theories which explain what influences people’s sexual choices and behaviour;
A clear, and continuously reinforced message about sexual behaviour and risk reduction;
Providing accurate information about, the risks associated with sexual activity, about contraception and birth control, and about methods of avoiding or deferring intercourse;
Dealing with peer and other social pressures on young people; Providing opportunities to practise communication, negotiation and assertion skills;
Uses a variety of approaches to teaching and learning that involve and engage young people and help them to personalise the information;
Uses approaches to teaching and learning which are appropriate to young people’s age, experience and cultural background;
Is provided by people who believe in what they are saying and have access to support in the form of training or consultation with other sex educators.
All the elements are important and inter-related, and sex education needs to be supported by links to sexual health services. It takes into account the messages about sexual values and behaviour young people get from other sources, like friends and the media.
Characteristics of effective sex education
Experts have identified critical characteristics of highly effective sex education and HIV/STD prevention education programmes. Such programmes:
Offer age and culturally appropriate sexual health information in a safe environment for participants;
Are developed in cooperation with members of the target community, especially young people;
Assist youth to clarify their individual, family, and community values;
Assist youth to develop skills in communication, refusal, and negotiation;
Provide medically accurate information about both abstinence and also contraception, including condoms;
Have clear goals for preventing HIV, other STDs, and/or teen pregnancy;
Focus on specific health behaviours related to the goals, with clear messages about these behaviours;
Address psychosocial risk and protective factors with activities to change each targeted risk and to promote each protective factor;
Respect community values and respond to community needs;
Rely on participatory teaching methods, implemented by trained educators and using all the activities as designed.