Lack of sex education ‘is a health time bomb’
- LGA said too many youngsters in Britain are still being diagnosed with STIs
- Official figures show there were 78,066 STI diagnoses among 15 to 19-year-olds
- Justine Greening has indicated she will consider making the subject mandatory
Eleanor Harding for the Daily Mail
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Justine Greening has already indicated she will consider making the subject mandatory
A lack of compulsory sex and relationships education has created a ‘ticking sexual health time bomb’, town hall chiefs have warned.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said too many youngsters are still being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to poor information in schools.
Official figures show there were 78,066 STI diagnoses among 15 to 19-year-olds in England in 2015, and 141,060 among 20 to 24-year-olds.
The LGA, which represents local authorities, urged the Education Secretary to make sex education mandatory in all secondary schools to combat the ‘shockingly high’ number of cases.
Justine Greening has already indicated she will consider making the subject mandatory, although parents would still retain the right to withdraw their children from classes.
Currently, only council-maintained secondaries must teach the subject – although many academies and free schools also so do voluntarily.
However, standards vary widely between schools and some very religious ones choose not to teach it at all.
The LGA said age-appropriate sex and relationships education should be an essential part of the curriculum for young people.
It said local authorities have responsibility for public health, budgeting around £600 million a year for sexual health, and without proper classes, pupils are not being properly prepared for adulthood.
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Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: ‘This is a major health protection issue.
‘The lack of compulsory sex and relationship education in academies and free schools is storing up problems for later on in life, creating a ticking sexual health time bomb, as we are seeing in those who have recently left school.
‘The shockingly high numbers of STI diagnoses in teenagers and young adults, particularly in the immediate post-school generation, is of huge concern to councils.
‘The evidence suggests that when designed and delivered in the right way, sex and relationships education can have a really positive impact on a pupil’s development.
‘However, we are also conscious that some parents may wish to remove their children from this, which is why we are saying there should also be provision for parents to opt their children out of lessons, if they consider this to be in the best interests of their child.’
An image from ‘Living and Growing’ from the Channel 4 DVDSex Education for 5-11-year-olds
It is understood Ms Greening is considering making the subject compulsory to tackle online grooming, sexting and youngsters viewing internet porn.
A number of MPs from different parties have come out in support of the measure.
Former Cabinet ministers Dominic Grieve, Nicky Morgan, Maria Miller, Dame Caroline Spelman and former Children’s minister Tim Loughton are understood to be backing the change.
At least seven Labour MPs – Sarah Champion, Graham Allen and Jon Cruddas – are said to be in support of it, as is a DUP MP Jim Shannon.
The change to the National Curriculum – which would be the biggest overhaul of sex education for 17 years – is proposed in an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill which was published in the House of Commons last week.
A Department for Education spokesman said: ‘High-quality education on sex and relationships is a vital part of preparing young people for success in adult life.
‘It is compulsory in all maintained secondary schools and, as the Education Secretary said recently, we are looking at options to ensure all children have access to high-quality teaching in these subjects.
‘We will update the House during the passage of the Children and Social Work Bill.’
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