Earlier Sex Forces Beijing Schools to Rewrite Guidelines

China Daily and the Beijing Morning Post recently reported on a survey suggesting earlier sexual activity among Beijing teenagers -- findings that are leading school authorities to rewrite sex education guidelines.

A survey conducted by Beijing's inner city Xuanwu district education department found that more than half of 2,300 high school students interviewed thought one-night stands were acceptable; 6.2 percent said they had already had intercourse at average age 15.

"The new generation is open-minded about sex," Zhang Meimie of the Beijing Sex Health Education Research Center said to China Daily. "Indeed, we can only conclude that it is a result of a fast-changing society."

Only six of the 1,300 girls interviewed said they would absolutely refuse to have sex with their boyfriends. China Daily said underage girls account for about one-quarter of the 1.5 million abortions in China each year.

The Beijing Morning Post noted that the survey shows only 40 percent of participants were aware of the need to use condoms.

City authorities will survey sex education in primary and middle schools, then draft new sex education guidelines to cope with increasing sexual activity, according to reports.

Back to other news for January 12, 2007