The Need for Sexual Health Education in Secondary Schools

There is increased problem in Nigeria today as to moral laxity, promiscuity, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), forced marriage, school dropout etc. among youths. The increase in these problems according to Orieh (1981, as cited in Nakpoda, 2012) has been attributed to ignorance of youth towards sexual health, confusion and frustration resulting from lack of awareness from both the home and the school on the need for sex education in the educational setting. Additionally, the need to educate young people about sexuality education also come in response to the reality that young people are engaging in a wider variety of sexual behaviours (e.g. Oral-penile, penile-anal, object-genital, penile-vaginal) than before and with more partners.  Teenage Pregnancy is very rampant in today’s society. At least, two young ladies from each senior class graduate being pregnant. This did not include the numerous others who end their classes prematurely as a result of their pregnant state and their inability to continue with regular schooling. Teenage mothers are less likely to finish secondary school. They are more likely than their peers to drop out of school, become teen parents themselves, live in poverty, and be in poor health ( NAIS, 2017).   In my opinion the cause of pregnancies among these teenagers is incorrect education about sex from peers or neighbours or no sex education at all. If these students were educated from their entrance into the high school program with a sexual education class, the outcome might have been different. Timely provision of accurate and comprehensive information and life skill training regarding sexual and reproductive health is essential for adolescents to achieve sexual health and avoid negative health outcomes.