PARENTS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STUDY OF SEX EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM

ABSTRACT

The study is aimed at analyzing the parent’s attitude towards the study of sex education into the secondary schools curriculum in Ikpoba Okha local government area of Edo state, Nigeria. The sample used consist of two hundred {200} respondents from four schools in Ikpoba Okha. A questionnaire titled “parent’s attitude towards the study of sex education in secondary school curriculum” was developed by the researcher for the collection of data. The data collected were analyzed by the use of simple percentage. The study showed that students actually want sex education in the secondary school curriculum and t was recommended that sex education should not only be introduced into the secondary school curriculum but also taught at home.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Sex education is one of the major determinants of future stability in families of the nation. Unfortunately, in Nigeria today while time and money are being spent on curriculum work and school environment, surprisingly, little time and attention are paid to the crucial issues of sex education. Sex education is a comprehensive and systematic development program extending from infancy to maturity. It is planned and directed to produce social and moral desirable sexual attitudes practices and personal behaviour. Sex problems have a very devastating eect on the individual in our society. Some people have wrong ideas about sex education. This is not surprising, considering the fact that many old people have their respective viewpoint about life. With the greater freedom of discussion of sex in our society and the earlier maturity of children today, one would not consider the introduction of ex education to our teenagers too early. The introduction of proper sex education to our youths will reduce many of the societal problems now facing us.

The bringing together of boys and girls into the same schools creates problems of physical contact and emotional involvement which eventually culminate in arousing sexuality. A majority of Nigerian parents and teachers believe that the sex education of their children is the parent’s responsibility while some others would welcome its introduction into the school curriculum. This lead to the question, ‘what are the students views towards it introduction into school curriculum? Simply put, sex education is that dealing with the processes and problems of reproductions designed to provide the individual with understanding and control of their sex impulses and behaviour. It also deals with the principles of both individual and groups problems stemming from the biological fact that there are two basic types of human beings – males and females. The need for the teaching of sex education in secondary schools in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Cannot be overemphasized. This is because of the influx of people from different ethnic group into the locality. Ikpoba-Okha has not only increased in population but also in size. The need to actualize these sexual feelings became evidence when the students are among themselves. But the forceful preventives warning of the parents only serve temporary chock on sexual tendencies amongst these youth. With these children sent to secondary schools and no thorough knowledge of sex life, a lot of problems easily come into play as the student’s jumps into their game of uncontrolled emotion.

As a place for the dissemination of knowledge, secondary schools become the local point fort the introduction of sex education, since present generation involve themselves in promiscuity and corruption, there is the need for them to be taught what sexual relationship is. With this, a lot of changes will occur in the life of the students, parents and the community at large. According to Calderome (1972) the World War II marked the liberalization of many attitudes about sex as well as the beginning of changes in behaviour leading individuals all over the world to advocate for ‘telling the truth’ to children. The child study association of America in the 1920s led the way toward an open approach to all topics including sex education. Though more emphasis was placed on reproductive education, since then, the concept has enlarged considering today sex education encompasses a wide range of biological, sociological and psychological knowledge. Today there is the awareness of the need for sex education in schools, churches and other institutions of the growing concern over teenage pregnancies, abortions, venereal disease, increased promiscuity, widespread martial and sexual difficulties.