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Sex education worldwide

United StatesIn Scotland, the main sex education
Almost 60% of adults think that sexuallyprogramme is Healthy Respect which
active teenagers should have easy accessfocuses not only on the biological
to contraception.[2] A 1997 study foundaspects of reproduction but also on
that about 48% of high school studentsrelationships and emotions. Education
are sexually active.about contraception and sexually
Some advocates, including Presidenttransmitted diseases are included in the
George W. Bush, have successfully workedprogramme as a way of encouraging good
toward the introduction ofsexual health. In response to a refusal
"abstinence-only" curricula. Under suchby Catholic schools to commit to the
instruction, teens are told that theyprogramme, however, a seperate sex
should be sexually abstinent untileducation programme has been developed
marriage, and information aboutfor use in those schools. Funded by the
contraception is not provided. OpponentsScottish Executive, the programme Call
argue this approach denies teens needed,to Love focuses on encouraging children
factual information and leads toto delay sex until marriage, and does
unwanted pregnancies, abortions, andnot cover contraception, and as such is
propagation of STDs.a form of abstinence only sex education.
Some curricula are advocated on theIn France, sex education has been part
grounds that they are intended to reduceof school curricula since 1973. Schools
sexual disease or out-of-wedlock orare expected to provide 30 to 40 hours
teenage pregnancy, but noof sex education, and pass out condoms,
abstinence-only program has ever beento students in grades eight and nine. In
shown to reduce teen sexual activity,January 2000, the French government
pregnancy, or STDs. A curriculumlaunched an information campaign on
ostensibly aimed at reducing pregnancycontraception with TV and radio spots
among high school students, whichand the distribution of five million
advocates the use of condoms, couldleaflets on contraception to high school
potentially lower the pregnancy rate.students.
Proponents of this view argue thatSubsidised by the Dutch government, the
sexual behaviour after puberty is a“Lang leve de liefde” (“Long Live
given, and it is therefore crucial toLove”) package, developed in the late
provide information about the risks and1980s, aims to give teenagers the skills
how they can be minimized. They holdto take their own decisions regarding
that conventional or conservativehealth and sexuality. Nearly all
moralizing will only alienate studentssecondary schools provide sex education
and thus weaken the message.as part of biology classes and over half
In turn, opponents of comprehensiveof primary schools discuss sexuality and
sexuality education object thatcontraception. The curriculum focuses on
curricula which fail to teach moralbiological aspects of reproduction as
behaviour actually serve to preventwell as on values, attitudes,
adolescents from making informedcommunication and negotiation skills.
decisions; they maintain that curriculaThe media has encouraged open dialogue
should include the claim thatand the health-care system guarantees
conventional (or conservative) moralityconfidentiality and a non-judgmental
is "healthy and constructive", and thatapproach. The Netherlands has one of the
value-free knowledge of the body maylowest teenage pregnancy rates in the
lead to immoral, unhealthy and harmfulworld, and the Dutch approach is often
practices.seen as a model for other countries. [4]
In December of 2004 Henry A. Waxman, aAsia
United States Congressman fromThe state of sex education programs in
California, released a report thatAsia is at various stages of
provides several examples of inaccuratedevelopment. Indonesia, Mongolia, South
information being included in federallyKorea and Sri Lanka have a systematic
funded abstinence-only sex educationpolicy framework for teaching about sex
programs. This report bolstered thewithin schools. Malaysia, the
claims of those Americans arguing thatPhilippines and Thailand have assessed
abstinence-only programs depriveadolescent reproductive health needs
teenagers of critical information.with a view to developing
The August 29/September 5, 2005, issueadolescent-specific training, messages
of The Nation reported that money fromand materials. India has programs
the Federal Government used to createspecifically aimed at female
high school abstinence clubs was beingadolescents. Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal
used to train "young abstinenceand Pakistan have no coordinated sex
advocates", who were being encouraged toeducation programs.
engage in politics and support issuesThe International Planned Parenthood
like overturning abortion. The articleFederation and the BBC World Service ran
states that although the program'sa 12-part series known as Sexwise, which
official language has been secularized,discussed sex education, family life
a list of its grant recipients "readseducation, contraception and parenting.
like a who's who list of the religiousIt was first launched in South Asia and
right."then extended worldwide.
EuropeAfrica
In the United Kingdom, sex education isSex education in Africa has focused on
compulsory in secondary school, butstemming the growing AIDS epidemic. Most
parents have the right to withdraw theirgovernments in the region have
children from lessons. The curriculumestablished AIDS education programs in
focuses on the reproductive system,partnership with the World Health
fetal development, and the physical andOrganization and international NGOs.
emotional changes of adolescence, whileThese programmes commonly teach the
information about contraception and safe'ABC' of HIV prevention: a combination
sex is discretionary. Britain has theof abstinence (A), fidelity to your
highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europepartner (Be faithful) and condom use
and sex education is a heated issue in(C). (See Abstinence, be faithful, use a
government and media reports. In a 2000condom.) The efforts of these
study by the University of Brighton,educational campaigns appear now to be
many 14 to 15 year olds reportedbearing fruit. In Uganda, condom use has
disappointment with the content of sexincreased, youths are delaying the age
education lessons and felt that lack ofat which sexual intercourse first
confidentiality prevents teenagers fromoccurs, and overall rates of HIV
asking teachers about contraception.infection have been going down.
[3].



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