SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS INHIBITING IMPLEMENTATION OF SEX EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN URUAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS INHIBITING IMPLEMENTATION OF SEX EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN URUAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

Socio-cultural Factors Inhibiting Implementation of Sex Education in Secondary Schools in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State

A serious and growing problem associated with teenage sexual activity is the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Many of these adolescents are involved in sexual activities without any protection and contraception. Thus a lot of them become surprised when they realized very late that they are injected. In addition, adolescent sexual activities tend to give rise to unwanted pregnancies which is reported by Adegbenro (2008) as now being on the increase in Nigeria among women of reproductive ages (15-49 years) Berka (2005) has reported that unwanted pregnancies are very common among the unmarried youths. The Nigerian Family Health Services Project (2007) came out with a stunning revelation that two out of every five secondary school girls interviewed admitted to have had at least one previous pregnancy.

The culture of the society in which a child grows in exerts some influence on what he is allowed to do. There are taboos and restrictions over the behaviour of the individual in the family and the society. The society imposes sanction against any behaviour that is deviant. Of all the natural drives in man, perhaps none is so surrounded by taboos as sex. This is so great that discussions on this topic are carried out far from the hearing of children.

As reported by Encanta (2006) the task of educating adolescents about sex has been seen as the responsibility of the parents. However, parent-child communication in sexual matters may be parental inhibition. As a result, children rarely receive their first information about sexual matters from their parents.

The culture teachers respect for elders control of sexual behaviour to the extent that the female genitals are mutilated to keep the sex drive at bay. In several societies, this cultural practices is extended to the schools such that parents do not allow their children to be taught sex education as this would make them became promiscuous. Young (2004) explains that in many schools in Britain, the policy is to send a letter of consent to the parent of each child before sex education is given to their children. This is to enable the school remove the children from such classes should the parents wish so. This shows that even in advanced societies there are some socio-cultural factors that inhibit the implementation of sex education programme in schools. Among such socio-cultural actors include religion and educational level of parents. Etim (2004) has asserted that the introduction of sex education is against the teaching of the Bible. In his view, this type of education has the potential of making youth promiscuous and increase their risk of pre-marital sex and pregnancies. Okpako (2005) points out that religion frowns at any open discussions on sex and places a taboo on it in order to restrict fornication and adultery which are immoral.

In the light of the above it is important to find out whether there are socio-cultural factors inhibiting implementation of sex education in secondary schools in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Statement of the Problem

The problem of this study is the poor implementation of sex education Programme in Secondary Schools in Nigeria generally. Since the idea of this form of education was mentioned, it has been greated with criticisms from various quarters such as the church, mosque, parents and others.

While some are opposed to it for encouraging immorality and promiscuity, others feel it is not necessary for proper upbringing of children. Even among the most enlightened nations like Britain. Some parents still kick against this form of sex education. While the controversy about the teaching of education continues, there are other more serious problems that stare the nation in the face. These are the problem of teenage pregnancies, illegal abortion, sexually transmitted diseases (STDS) including (HIV/AIDS, infertility and the newly mentioned Ebola.

Unfortunately, ignorance, lack of education, religion and cultural practices and beliefs are some of the socio-cultural considerations that hamper the implementation of sex education in Nigerian Secondary Schools. The problem of this study therefore is to find out the socio-cultural factors that inhibit implementation of sex education in secondary schools in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Objectives of the Study

1. To assess the inhibition of religion on the teaching of sex Education in Secondary Schools in Uruan Local Government Area.
2. To determine how education of parents inhibit the teaching of sex Education in Secondary Schools in Uruan Local Government Area.
3. To determine how cultural practices/beliefs inhibits the teaching of sex Education in Secondary Schools in Uruan Local Government Area.

Research Questions

The study will provide answers to the following questions.

1. How does religion inhibit the implementation of sex education in secondary schools in Uruan Local Government Area.
2. To what extent does educational factors inhibit the implementation of sex education programme in secondary schools in Uruan Local Government Area.
3. To what extent will cultural practices/beliefs inhibit the implementation of sex education programme in secondary schools in Uruan Local Government Area.