SEX EDUCATION: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

CABALTEA JOY B. 12 SUPERB

One of today's most dominant problems is pre-marital sex which leads to teenage
pregnancy. According to Unicef (2022), “Globally in 2021, an estimated 14 percent of
adolescent girls and young women give birth before age 18” (para. 1). It is very alarming
because this kind of issue also contributes to the increase in the poverty rate in a country.
Thus, sex education in our schools is necessary to open our minds to the possibility of
preventing teenage pregnancy.
A lot of people argued that sex education is a personal matter that parents should
discuss with their children and thus, should not be part of the academic setting. But if
we’re going to have an open mind and be rational about this issue, we could say that sex
education must continue to be taught in schools. Students will be properly educated about
the effects of teenage pregnancy in their lives, and what are the things that they can get if
they continue to be involved in this kind of activity. It will also help them to avoid
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancy. Furthermore, a study
of sex education in California public schools discovered that "curriculum-based
comprehensive sexuality education, which includes instruction that includes a focus on
abstinence, as well as comprehensive information about contraception and sexually
transmitted diseases, shown to delay rather than quicken the onset of sexual activity"
(Combelick and Brindis), therefore showing how effective comprehensive sex education
is.
There is also a widespread misconception that providing comprehensive sexual
education in schools encourages sexual activity and leads to an increase in the number of
teenagers having sex. A lot of studies demonstrate that sex education can help young
people delay sexual initiation. According to World Health Organization, Sex education
programs that teach young people about both abstinence and contraception do not
increase sexual activity nor lead youth to engage in sex at an early age. Goldman (2011)
also argued that the knowledge of sexuality leads to informed decision-making, delayed
sexual intercourse, responsible interpersonal behavior, and self-protection strategies. This
program also provides students with factual and realistic information about the safety of
various sexual practices as well as on how to prevent pre-marital sex and being infected
with Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

Sex Education provides young people with the knowledge and skills that they need
to have for a healthy sexual life for the rest of their lives. They learn how to have healthy
relationships, make informed sexual decisions, think critically about the world, and
accept themselves as they are. Thus, Sex Education must be mandatory in every school to
help reduce teenage pregnancy rates and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
REFERENCES
Juiette D.G. Goldman, (2011),“An exploration in health Education Pedagogies For
young People”,Oxford Academic,
https://academic.oup.com/her/article/26/3/526/739587
Combelick Sarah & Claire Brindis, “Uneven Progress:Sex Education in California
Public Schools”, Bixby Center for global Reproductive Health, Retrieved
from: https://docplayer.net/12108226-Uneven-progress-sex-education-in-
california-public-schools-sarah-combellick-mph-claire-brindis-drph.html
UNICEF(2022),”Early Childbearing”
https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-health/adolescent-health/