England: Sex Education "Failing Pupils"

Sex education in schools in England is failing to teach pupils enough about the dangers of STDs, says a report from school inspectors. And young people might be too willing to accept the impression given by the media that almost all teenagers are sexually active.

According to a study of 140 primary, secondary and special schools, and interviews with 650 students, teaching about sexual health and the law in relation to sex was "poor" in one lesson in five. Despite some good teaching about sex and relationships, school inspectors found that there are serious weaknesses.

According to data released from the study, there are 90,000 teenage pregnancies in England each year. Of these 7,700 are under age 16; 2,200 of these are under age 14 and half of those under 16 years old do not use contraception the first time they have sex. Britain has the highest teenage birth rate in western Europe.

Ministers say education about HIV/AIDS is receiving less attention than in the past and that parenthood issues are not taught in all secondary schools. They recommend that sex education be broadened beyond factual knowledge to give greater emphasis to relationships, values and personal skills. And they conclude that attention needs to be given to school-age fathers.

Pointing to magazines that they describe as "increasingly influential sources of information," the inspectors charge the media with misleading youth into thinking that all young people are sexually active. They suggest teachers should use the sources in classroom sex education materials and include critical study of the messages they carry.

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