Key Components of Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Knowledge + Attitudes & Values Clarification + Skills Development…..which promote and sustain risk-reducing behaviours (Behaviour Change).
Evidence shows that sexuality education is more effective if it develops children and young people’s skills as well as knowledge.
Participatory and interactive learning tasks need to be built into sexuality and relationships education so that skills such as communication, negotiation and listening can be practiced and developed.
Sexuality education can have an important role in busting unhelpful myths so it must be based on medically correct information about contraception, reproduction and sexual health.
A range of views on sex and relationships can be discussed, including faith perspectives, but teachers must be clear when they are presenting facts and when they are presenting opinions or beliefs.
Clear core values run through good quality, comprehensive sexuality education, including mutual respect, loving and happy relationships, rights to information, safety and health, equality (particularly on the basis of gender and sexual orientation) and responsibility for oneself and others.
Good quality sexuality education can provide a safe space for children and young people to identify and reflect on their own values and those of others, including their peers.
Family Planning recommends the following components are included in sexuality and relationships programmes for primary and intermediate and secondary years, when age and stage appropriate, and spiralling through the years.
Primary and Intermediate Years
Attitudes & Values
- clarification of family and own attitudes and values
- equality
- identifying that love and sex are not the same
- identifying stigma
- non-judgemental
- open-mindedness
- positive attitude toward their health
- positive self-esteem
- recognising discrimination
- respect for self & others
- sense of responsibility.
Skills
- ability to ask questions and seek help
- ability to take responsibility
- assertiveness
- being a good friend
- communication and negotiation including boundary setting, giving and getting consent.
- confidence
- decision making
- developing critical thinking
- recognising myths and stereotypes
- empathy
- hygiene
- recognising peer pressure
- recognising Yes and No feelings.
Knowledge
- basics of reproduction, including pregnancy and birth
- biological differences between sexes
- difference between gender and sex
- different types of love, friendships
- different types of relationships, families
- names of body parts
- pubertal changes (physical, emotional and social)
- qualities of a good friend
- recognising and managing range of emotions
- Yes and No feelings; privacy.
Older years:
- contraception
- impact of alcohol and drugs
- relationship violence
- sexual orientation
- sexually transmissible infections and prevention
- society’s changing norms and values
- stages of intimate relationships
- support services.
Secondary Years
Attitudes & Values
- clarification of own attitudes and values
- equality
- gender roles
- identifying stigma
- identifying that love, lust and sex are not the same
- non-judgemental
- open-mindedness
- positive attitude toward their health
- positive self-esteem
- respect for self & others sense of responsibility
- recognising discrimination.
Skills
- ability to ask questions and seek help ability to take responsibility
- assertiveness
- condom use
- confidence
- critical thinking
- critiquing the media
- communication and negotiation including giving and getting consent, delay and abstaining, boundary setting
- decision making
- recognising myths and stereotypes
- empathy
- ethical bystanding
- recognising peer pressure
- recognising unhealthy behaviours, coercion and violence.
Knowledge
- cultural norms and social rules
- contraceptive options including Emergency Contraception
- gender diverstiy
- impact of alcohol and drugs
- pregnancy options including abortion
- qualities of a good friend
- recognising and managing range of emotions
- relationship violence
- reproduction
- rights and laws e.g. relating to sexual diversity, consent, service access, abortion, safety and protection
- sexual orientation
- sexually transmissible infections and prevention
- stages of intimacy, sexual response and pleasure
- support services.