Sex education is designed to help young people have access to the information, skills and motivation to make healthy decisions about sex and sexuality throughout their lives. Sex education exposes a youth to all that have to do with sex, in terms of the act, and the consequences/implications of engaging in sex. This helps such youth to make decisions on when they want to start having sex and in which context. Like it is said in my ethnic group, you don't tell a child not to contact leprosy, as long as s/he is prepared to live in self isolation. So, sex education allows our young folks to take decisions on sex, and live by that decision. It is in the light of the above that I find sex education insightful.

However, what the 21st century's young folks do with the knowledge acquired through sex education has revealed that sex education is certainly not preemptive on a general note. Despite the available information about the precarious situations that sex put youths into, sex education has not prevented these youths from engaging in sex. A lot of them are still engaging in sex at their own peril. In these days of free and easy access to the internet, sex among children and youths has been on the increase, and that, at an alarming rate.

What then do we do with sex education? Do away with it? Absolutely no! It is still relevant as a safety net for youths who will be armed with the necessary information about sex. It is in this light that we will discuss some aspects of sex education in this write up. I used "some aspects" because its scope is too wide to be covered in this effort. However, whatever aspects of it that will be covered, may be of immense benefits to few people out there.

Agents of sex education

Sex education should take place, and be handled by the following:

Schools

Homes

Communities

Non Governmental Agencies (NGOs)

Religious institutions

In the final analysis, parents and families have a critical and central role to play in providing sex education. These youths and children are in the custody of their parents and family for about two thirds of the day. They are the primary responsibility of their parents.

Components of sex education

Bodily development. This deals with issues of human anatomy vis-à-vis puberty. Our young ones deserve to be guided on what goes on in their bodies as males and females. They should be informed about the functions of the organs of their bodies, especially the reproductive organs.

What sex is and when is best time to venture into the act of sex. They also must realize the need to take adequate care of their sex organs, in order to forestall future health problems that may arise due to neglect or negligence.

Healthy sexual relationship

This has to do with understanding relationships that can make or mar their future health, career, marriage and family living. An understanding of the conduct of such relationships is also essential in order to avoid problems associated with untimely sex. Abstinence from sex acts should be top on the table in this discourse.

Problems of untimely sex

Here, issues of unwanted pregnancies, school drop outs, sexually transmitted diseases should be given a place of prominence in the discourse. The issue of contraceptives should also be discussed, in case such youth want to take the risk of untimely sex.

Rape and multiple sex partners

This deals with information about protection against rape, and dangers of multiple sex partners. Honest information must be provided for these youths as a guide to making healthy sexual decisions.

LGBTQ enlightenment should be provided in order for youths to be properly guided. LGBTQ is short form for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning, in describing someone's sexual values or identity or discipline.

Conclusively, sex education must be provided for youths and children by trained persons - teachers, parents, NGOs and other agents. This is needful so as to minimize errors of commission and omission. We must never endanger our youths with false or half information on sex education. It is equally as dangerous as, if not more dangerous than lack of sex education. Governments and NGOs have developed curriculum that are quite instructive for the purpose of sex education, which are readily available as a training manual in this wise.

Credit: We thank Aunty Bosede and Uncle Segun OLA - SAMUEL for writing today's piece. They both, are Senior Pastors of Graceway Christian Centre. They oversee Marriage Enrichment Network M.E.N), a body that is committed to promoting the sanctity of the marriage institution, comprising of couples from all works of life, who are committed to making their marriage work. They are authors of several books, one of which is Enjoying Great Sex Life. They run a column in Saturday Tribune, a Nigerian newspaper, known as INTIMACY with Bosede Ola-Samuel, with the vision of promoting sexual fulfillment in marriage. And they also run conferences for couples.

Have a beautiful day.

© SELAH SERIES 2020