Assessing Students’ Perception Towards the Teaching of Sexuality Education in Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria

Abstract

The absence of systematic sex education in schools would seem to be a transfer from the tendency among parents to shy away from answering questions about sex and procreation which young people ask. The prevalence of indulgence in premarital sex or unsafe sexual behaviours by secondary school students who are mostly adolescents has attracted growing concerns from all stakeholders. These unsafe sexual behaviours may have significant unpleasant consequences on their health which they may not be necessarily aware of considering the high prevalence rate of sexually transmitted diseases. Over the years, there has been a heated debate on whether sexuality education should be included in school curriculum. While some think it is immoral for sex education to be included in the school curriculum, others strongly believe that the teaching of sex education is ideal for teenagers as it will guide them who early exposure to technology makes them vulnerable to misinformation. Parents on the other hand are worried about the way sexuality education is being taught in schools. Yet these divergent views represent both sides of the same coin – a genuine concern borne out of the need to protect and ensure the safety of the future of teenagers and young people in general. This study therefore looked at the students’ perception of sexuality education taught to them in the school and how students’ predominant views on sex influence their acceptance of sexuality education.