THE IMPORTANCE AND PROSPECTS OF TEACHING SEX EDUCATION IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL: A CASE STUDY OF SOME SELECTED SCHOOLS IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

An important but most undermined phenomenon that has ploughed the society for many years is sex education. This phenomenon is so complicated that people have different view about it. These differences bring tolerance in security among some while it creates problems in some other ethnic groups where discussion of sex is taboo. Sex education is one of the major determinants of future stability in families of any nation. It is a comprehensive and systematic development programme extending from infancy to maturity. It is planned and directed to produce social and moral desirable sexual attitudes, practices and behaviour; Calder wood and Sloan (1982). Sex problem have had a very devastating effect on the individual in our society. Some people have wrong idea about sex education. This is not surprising considering the fact that many old people have their respective point of view about life. In a society where boys and girls admitted into the same school creates problem of physical problem and emotional involvement, which eventually results in arousing sexuality. This anxiety created in them; make them jump into this game of uncontrollable emotion. In this chapter, the researcher intends to have an overview of terminologies associated with sex before dealing with the scope of this study.

Sex education is the instruction about sex and human sexuality which children are supposed to receive but many parents do not instruct their children about sex at all. With the greater freedom of discussion of sex in our society and the early maturity of children today. One would consider the introduction of sex education to our teenagers too early, the introduction of proper sex education to our youth or teenagers reduce many of the society problems that are facing us. Correct and relevant information should be given to teenagers about the changes and development they observe in their bodies during the period of maturity. The girls develop breast and pelvic bone broaden etc. these start about the age of twelve years (12) while the boys sexual organs matures, their chest widens and their larynx enlarges. This period in teenagers is very crucial in the life of an individual and many frustrations may occur during this stage such as school dropout, sexual immorality, juveniles delinquencies to mention a few. Gone are those days when sexual matter was hidden from children. They are expected to be given information about sex so as to break through the desire in them so that they will not go astray. Sex desire can lead to sexual immorality which can result to unwanted pregnancy. Most unmarried teenagers who have babies are carried away by sexual feelings and emotional desire. This can lead to abortion, sexually transmitted disease and so no. Religious groups and a taboo to the generality of the society consider sexual intercourse between two persons who are not married wrong. It can result to unwanted child, psychological problem for person involved. The need for the teaching of sex education in junior secondary school in Egor local government Area cannot be overemphasized.

This is because of the influx of people from different ethnic groups into the locality. Egor local government area has not only increased in population and also in size. The need to actualize these sexual feelings becomes the evident when students are among themselves. But the forceful preventive warning of the parents only saves them temporary check on sexual tendencies amongst these youth. With the children sent to secondary schools and no true knowledge of sex education, a lot of problem easily comes into play as the students jump this game of uncontrolled emotional. As a place for the dissemination of knowledge, secondary school become the local point for introduction of sex education, since present generation involves itself 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’s of the students, parents and the community at large. According to Calder-Wood and Sloan (1982) the World War II marked the liberation of many attitudes about sex as well as the beginning of change in behaviour, leading individuals all over the world to advocate for children. The child study association of American in the 1920s led the way towards an open approach to all topics including sex education. Through more emphasis was placed on reproductive education since then, the concept has enlarged.