New report finds relationship and sex education in schools taught on ad-hoc basis

A new report has found more than 75% of high school leavers said they didn’t learn enough about sexuality and relationships at school. Photo / Supplied

A new report has found more than 75% of high school leavers said they didn’t learn enough about sexuality and relationships at school.

Relationships and sexuality education falls under the Health and Physical Education learning section of the New Zealand curriculum and is compulsory for students in Years 1-10.

However, the Education Review Office (ERO) report shows that what students learn about relationships and sexuality varies depending on where they go to school.

ERO’s Education Evaluation Centre head Ruth Shinoda said nearly a quarter of schools deliver relationships and sexuality education on an ad-hoc basis.

Relationships and sexuality education falls under the Health and Physical Education learning section of the New Zealand curriculum and is compulsory for students in Years 1-10.

“In addition to this, too many of our young people are reporting that they didn’t learn enough at school,” she said.

“Over three-quarters of recent school leavers told us that they didn’t learn enough about consent, managing feelings and emotions, and personal safety, including online.”

Young people are increasingly exposed to risks, including harmful online content, Shinoda said.

“For example, two-thirds of our country’s 14 – 17-year-olds have seen pornography. We know that this can impact students’ perceptions of healthy sexual behaviours.

“Relationships and sexuality education plays an important role in teaching students to identify and reject misinformation and harmful attitudes. Nearly all parents and students want relationships and sexuality education taught in New Zealand’s schools.”

Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) president Chris Abercrombie welcomed the findings.

“The report has shown us that there is widespread support from parents, whānau and students for relationships and sexuality education (RSE), but there is a need to improve consistency across the RSE curriculum as a whole,” he said.

“In an increasingly fractured and online world, it is important that parents and whānau know what their rangatahi are learning at school. Nowhere is this more important than in relationships and sexuality education.”

The ERO wants a review of the curriculum and implementation of a clearer core of knowledge and skills all students need.

“In addition to this, we need to increase relationships and sexuality education teaching in senior secondary, when many students need it most.

“ERO is also calling for schools to be required to inform and explain to parents what will be taught in relationships and sexuality education, rather than consult, and for schools to make sure parents know how they can withdraw their students from relationships and sexuality education classes if what is being taught isn’t what they want for their child.”

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