CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
There comes a time in a child’s life when he/she runs excitedly to the mother, exclaiming about the changes taking place in his body. These changes includes, the breast enlargement, appearance of pubic and armpit hairs, but to his surprise, the mother shuts him down. This can send a wrong signal to the child. This response goes a long way in shaping the child’s sexual life. The child who is in need of answers to the questions his body keeps asking cannot share his thoughts as he avoids been rejected or laughed at by his peer groups. The child then grows up with a burden on him. He gets to the school and even when such topics are mentioned, he does not want to be a part of it. For children to grow into healthy adults, they need information about their sexual health. The process or ways in which the knowledge is been transmitted to the child matters a lot. The human sexuality has biological, emotional/physical and spiritual aspects. The biological aspect of his sexuality refers to the reproductive mechanism as well as the basic biological drive (libido). The emotional/physical aspect of sexuality refers to the bond that exists between individuals. This is expressed thoroughly through profound feelings or physical manifestations’ of love, trust and care. The spiritual aspect of sexuality has to do with the individual’s connection to others. Experience has also shown that adolescents are curious about some or all aspects of their sexuality. (www.sexeducation.com). Years of research shows that children and youths who are knowledgeable about their sexual health are more resistant to sexual abuse, older when they engage in sexual activities and more likely to protect themselves from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. (Vancouver Island Health Authority-Health Choices Program). Some International Organization such as the Planned Parenthood Federation consider that broad sex education programs have global benefits such as controlling the risk of over population and the advancement of women’s reproductive rights. Sex education enables the youth to know more about the biological development of their bodies. Common Avenue for sex education includes parents, formal school programs and public health campaigns. When sex education is taught in schools, students are able to understand the physiological, social and emotional changes they experience. As they mature, they develop healthy and rewarding relationships. They make wise, informed and responsible decisions on sexuality matters. However, parents who are the primary care givers have a role to play in the incorporation of sex education in schools. They are responsible for the health and moral values of their children. As parents, it is expected to teach, guide and nurture your child through childhood and adolescence towards adulthood and also providing them with skills and knowledge to make safe life choices on matters concerning their overall wellbeing. They need to know about sex and reproduction not just that which was taught at schools but from you also. It also becomes obvious that there is no right or wrong age at which to teach the child about sex. Questions need to be answered honestly-on an “I need to know” basis. In other words, the knowledge given to the child at home aids his understanding of the concept been taught at school. Open communication channels are vital to ensure that your child has knowledge of the human reproduction. Burt (2009) defined sex education as “the study of the characteristics of being; a male or a female.” Sex education includes all the educational measures which in any way may have their center on sex. He further said that sex education stands for protection, preservation, extension, improvement and development of the family based on accepted ethical ideas. Kearney sees sex education as “involving a comprehensive course of action by the school, calculated to bring about the socially desirable attitudes, practices and personal conduct on the part of children and adults that will best protect the individual as a human and the family as a social institution.” This means that sex education may also be described as ‘sexuality education’. It encompasses education about all aspects of sexuality, including information about family planning, information about reproduction, all aspects of one’s sexuality and how to avoid them. Various aspects of sex education are to be appropriately taught in schools depending on the age of the child and what they are able to comprehend at a particular time. It can be taught as a full course which is part of the curriculum in junior secondary or senior secondary schools; other times a unit is just been taught either during biology class or health class. It should be noted that parents and guardians are a primary and important source of sexual health education for young people (King et al 1988). Statement of Problem Youths, as they develop into adulthood are faced with so many sexual challenges. While seeking to know and understand their sexual wellbeing, some become victims of sexual abuse. This has led to an increase in the rate of school dropout, unwanted pregnancies, forced marriages and sexually transmitted diseases among youths. Apparently, some parents are ignorant of the role they play in providing their children with the necessary information about/on their sexual life. This information would enable the child grow into adulthood and also helps to prevent the child from making wrong decisions in life. This study was therefore designed to examine the attitudes of parents towards the study of sex education in an enlightened community like the University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, Benin City. Purpose of Study This study attempts to explain the need for sex education in schools. It tries to assess parents’ attitude towards the study of sex education in schools. It also shows the importance of sex education to the society at large and points out the social and educational implications of poor sexuality education for the school child. It also enlightens parents’ on the role they play in the inclusion of sex education in the curriculum of secondary schools. It also enables the curriculum planners take into consideration the multicultural nature of the society when drawing up a sex education program.