Following the sex tape scandal that rocked Chrisland Schools and reported cases of child sexual abuse, some parents in Lagos have expressed divergent views on the call for the introduction of sex education into the secondary school curricula.
The views were expressed in separate interviews.
Dubem Anagbado, a sales executive at May and Baker and a father of three, said, “Sex education could be taught in schools depending on its content. If it’s based on children being free to express their sexual orientation, I don’t support that.”
He added, “However if it’s to explain to the children about their body parts and how and when it should be used to avoid any consequence, I support that.”
According to Mr. Dubem, the family has the responsibility to teach children sex education.
Abimbola Egbinola, an artisan and mother of three, stated that sex education should be taught in schools to educate children about sex predators and their tactics.
“What is happening in our society is scary. Children are being misled, they need to know what sex is all about and its consequences. Sex education must be taught in schools,” she stressed. “I try my best to educate my children, and added to what the school teaches them, children should understand how serious it is so they won’t be victims.”
Ignatius Onadi, an electrician and father of five, said sex education was not needed.
“Children of this generation know and can do what their parents don’t do. So, what is the need of educating them when they already have a wide knowledge of sex?” Mr. Onadi reasoned. “We tend to pretend a lot. What we can do is to pray for them.”
However, Anita Onuorah, a tailor and a mother of four, said sex education should be an important aspect of education.
“Our moral values are decaying and our children are becoming useless every passing day, do we need someone to tell us that we need to reorient our children and youths?” she stressed. “Sex education is only a small part of education but it is paramount, sometimes, I hear different stories from my children when they come back from school. We need to change their mindset.”
She added, “Rape is a lack of sexual choice, a child lacks the ability to make a choice concerning her sexuality due to age. Consequently, any choice or consent given by a child is unacceptable.”
Idorenyin Jewel, the headteacher at the Kings Kid School, explained that joint efforts from parents and teachers would go a long way in educating young impressionable children.
“The fact that sexual abuse is a regrettable reality in our society and on the increase, wreaking havoc on the psyche and well-being of our kids and adolescents, it is important that parents and teachers teach sex education,” said Ms. Jewel.