INTRODUCTION:

Sexuality is one of the most important aspects of life. sexuality permeates the psychological and spiritual areas of a person’s life .A decisive role in the formation of a family and if sexuality was not understood properly can destroy the families and the intimate relationship that exist between the members of family. The great psychologist Sigmund Freud observed that until human beings learn to control their sexual instincts, social life is impossible. sexual relations are only procreative but also reactive, they help to promote human fulfillment and satisfaction.

AIMS:

Sex education helps the children to understand that each part of the body and each phase of growth is good and purposeful and helps in the following:

a) To understand the process of reproduction.

b) To prepare children for the changes of developments which come with Growth and development.

c) To prepare young people see that sexual conduct involved with other persons needs to be based upon a sincere regard for the welfare of the others.

d) To make children proud of their own sex and appreciate attributes and capacities of other sex behaviour.

OBJECTIVES:

a) Sex education will focus on the total personality development of the individual. It includes: physical, social and psychological aspects of sex and sexulity.

b) Factual ,complete and honest information about sex and sexuality.

c) It enables young people to become responsible in making decisions.

d) Sexual health education will help the child to respect self and others.

e) Sexual health education will provide opportunity to youngsters to imbibe human values, ethical, social and spiritual values which will serve as a guide to the individual in personal, family and social relationship.

f) Sexual healthy education should help the young boys and girls to understand that each part of the body and each phase of growth is good and has a purpose. This will give holistic idea about human development.

g) Sexual health education should help in the formation of an emotionally stable personality.

COMPONENTS OF SEX EDUCATION:

a) Sexual differences:

Men and women exhibits-physical differences during (prenatal, birth, puberty , adolescence, socialization, health and illness),emotional differences (such as anxiety and fear, during menstrual cycle and emotions), intellectual differences, differences, in sexual behaviour .

b) Physical aspects:

i) Anatomy and Physiology of the reproductive organs, physical, emotional, psychological changes during puberty.

ii)Conception, pregnancy and child birth.

c) Social aspects:

i) Sex drive or sexual feelings in childhood and adolescence

ii) Emotional development-teenage excitement and emotional stress.

iii) Personal identity (self-esteem)

iv) Social relationships(with parents, siblings, peer members of either sex)

v) Pre-marital sex

d) Sex roles:

Role expectation, male and female roles, being musculain/ feminine.

e) STD/HIV:

Sexually transmitted diseases.

TEACHING AT SCHOOL:

Following principles should be followed when sex education is given at school/home:

i) Sex education should be commenced before the onset of puberty.

ii) It should be provided in a graded manner and should be spread over a period of 8-10 years.

iv) Parents permission should be obtained and their co-operation should be solicited.

v) Sex education may be a part of the curricular or extracurricular activity.

vii) Teaching should have a social prospective.

viii) Answers have to be given truthfully.

ix) Use correct names for various organs in the human body.

x) Teaching should be scientifically correct..

xi) Teaching on sex education should be a two way dialogue.

xii) The languages used and the manner of conducting the programme should be socially acceptable.

xiii) If the teaching is around a year, 45 minutes to 1 hour session once in a week will be adequate. Half a day or full day workshop periodically 4 times a year would serve as an alternative.

xiv) Talks should be supported by audio-visual aids.

xv) Group should not be over 50, otherwise, two way communication is difficult to establish.

CONCLUSION:

Sex education, including moral education in school children help to develop and explore their own values, self esteem, and insights in understanding their obligations, relationship with family members of both gender and responsibilities to others. So, we teachers and parents need to do a better job in educating our adolescents regarding sex and sexuality, which makes the adolescents to live harmoniously in the society.

Received on 21.07.2011 Modified on 02.11.2011

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 1(4): Oct-Dec. 2011; Page 101-102