Sex education a failure, warns group

SCHOOL sex education has failed and needs to be more explicit to combat rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and teenage abortions, the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has warned.

The association says the approach to sex education is "hit-and-miss".

IFPA chief executive Catherine Heaney said too many young people were reaching adulthood without a real understanding of how their body works.

"Recent surveys from three health board areas show that 25% of Irish teenagers are sexually active by the age of 16.

However, many are unaware of sexually transmitted infections and some do not link sex to having a child."

She said the 10% rise in STIs in the first six months of 2001 and the rise in the number of teenagers travelling for terminations were proof of the lack of awareness.

"There is a glaring need to improve the quality of information that young people are receiving.

By the time they become sexually active, young people should have a good understanding of sexuality and reproduction."

However, the National Congress of Catholic Secondary Schools Parent Associations said sex education in schools was already too explicit.

Honorary general secretary Tom Lillis said much of the material used "would have been considered pornographic in my day".

"In today's society teenagers are exposed to very explicit material on satellite TV and they don't need more exposure. I also think parents have the ultimate right to teach children sex education."

Mr Lillis, a microbiologist, said teenagers should be taught more about abstinence.

Meanwhile, the North Eastern Health Board (NEHB) has been forced to postpone the launch of a series of sex education booklets aimed at young people after concerns were raised by callers to a local radio station.

The joint launch, by the NEHB and the IFPA, was due to take place in Dundalk yesterday.

However, the launch was postponed after concerns were expressed that the age of consent for boys was not included in the booklet, 4 Boys.

A statement from the NEHB said the book would now be re-examined and the issue of concern addressed by the board.

The booklets included 4 Boys, described as a below-the-belt guide to the male body; 4 Girls (a below-the-bra guide to the female body) and Periods (what you need to know).

Ms Heaney said while there had been some opposition to the booklets "the reality is that schools and youth groups have been ordering them from Britain since they were first published.

"There is a clear demand and need for them in Ireland and the North Eastern Health Board deserve congratulations for helping to instigate their publication here."