In its bid to cut abortion rate and sexually transmitted infections among teenagers, the family Planning Association and Brook, health Charity organisations in the United Kingdom, UK, have suggested that compulsory sex education be given to children early as four years of age. These bodies insist such move will help cut abortion rates and sexually transmitted infections among teenagers. The belief is that gradual education from such a young age would help children not to rush into pre-marital sex.
The Department for Children, Schools and Family in the UK said it was reviewing the delivery of sex education in schools. The school law indicates that children aged four might be taught about the names of body parts and basic ideas about different relationships. These organisations insist that government is not bgiving young people enough information about sex and relationships.Simon Blake, Brook’s chief executive, said” Many young people are having sex because they want to find out what it is, because they were drunk or because their mates were. That is not good enough for young people”. He said that evidence shows that if one gives sex and relationship education to children before puberty, the children are more likely to use contraception and practice safe sex.
The health Charity organisations insist that the basic sex education that children are given in science classes is not enough and therefore request the sex and relationship education be included in the curriculum across the UK. This should come alongside other compulsory subjects such as Mathematics and English, as is the case in Northern Ireland. It is believed that effective sex and relationship education is essential for young people to make safe and healthy chioces about their lives and prevent early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. A spokesman added that an advisory group on the issue would be making recommendations on new policy to the government later this month.