The British Humanist Association (BHA) today welcomes calls from a cross-party group of MPs for the Government ‘to guarantee appropriate sex and relationship education in every primary and secondary school by putting personal, social and health education on a statutory basis as part of the national curriculum’.
Naomi Phillips, BHA Public Affairs Officer, said, ‘We believe that SRE can best be improved if it is a statutory, compulsory part of the curriculum in all schools, being comprehensive in scope and well above the minimum basics of what is currently required by law. Making comprehensive SRE compulsory in all schools, together with the necessary training and investment in teaching resources and information, should help to give teachers the skills and confidence to teach excellent SRE to their pupils.
Ms Phillips continued, ‘Good sex education should encompass much more than basic biology. It should remove ignorance, prejudice and anxiety; it should widen people’s choices – including the choice not to have sex if that is what they prefer –and improve personal happiness; it should teach how to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases; it should prepare both sexes for the important task of parenthood. There is much evidence that good sex education leads to fewer teenage pregnancies.’
In Wales and Scotland, educational decisions such as these are made by the Welsh Assembly Government or the Scottish Parliament respectively.
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For more information, contact Naomi Phillips, 020 7079 3585 or visit humanists.uk
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the non-religious and campaigning for an end to religious privilege and discrimination based on religion or belief. T he BHA contributes to debate on a wide range of ethical issues from stem cell research to sex education, and acts as a unique watchdog and lobbying organisation. The BHA is a member of the National Children’s Bureau Sex Education Forum (SEF).