SEX EDUCATION AND ADOLESCENT UPBRINGING IN BENIN CITY
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Sex education is the provision of information about bodily development, sex, sexuality and relationships, along with skills-building to help young people communicate about and make informed decisions regarding sex and their sexual health (Bridge & Hauser, 2014). Sex education includes information about puberty and reproduction, abstinence, contraception and condom, relationship, sexual violence prevention, body image, gender identity and sexual orientation. Sex education is informed by evidence of what works best to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Sex education treats sexual development as a normal, natural part of human development. It is widely accepted that young people have a right to sexeducation because it provides accurate, complete and developmentally appropriate information on human sexuality, including risk-reduction strategies and contraception which help young people take steps to protect their health, including delaying sex, using condom or contraception and being monogamous. Providing an effectivesex education helps to meet young people’s rights to information about matters that affect them,their right to have their needs met and to help them enjoy their sexuality and the relationshipsthat they form.
Sex education also helps equip young people with the skills to be able to differentiatebetween accurate and inaccurate information, and to discuss a range of moral and social issuesand perspectives on sex and sexuality, including different cultural attitudes and sensitive issueslike sexuality, abortion and contraception.Akerele (2010) opined that “sex is something you do, sexuality is something you are.” This wayof understanding sex highlights the difference between the act of sex and the individualexperience of sexuality, which is an intrinsic part of who we are, one that can’t be separated outof ourselves any more than our ethnicity or religious/spiritual beliefs.Sexuality is a natural andprecious aspect of life, an essential and fundamental part of our humanity. For people to attainthe highest standard of health,they must first be empowered to exercise choice in their sexualand reproductive lives; they must feel confident and safe in expressing their own sexual identity.
Providing information through sex education is therefore about finding out what young peoplealready know and adding to their existing knowledge and correcting any misinformation theymay have. For example, young people may have heard that condoms are not effective againstHIV or that there is a cure for AIDS. It is important to provide information which correctsmistaken beliefs. Without correct information young people can put themselves at greaterrisk.Information is also important as the basis on which young people can developwell-informed attitudes and views about sex and sexuality. Young people need to have information onall the following topics:
•    Sexual development & reproduction - the physical and emotional changes associated withpuberty and sexual reproduction, including fertilization and conception, as well assexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.
•    Contraception & birth control - what contraceptives there are, how they work, howpeople use them, how they decide what to use or not, and how they can be obtained.
•    Relationships - what kinds of relationships there are, love and commitment, marriage andpartnership and the law relating to sexual behaviour and relationships as well as the rangeof religious and cultural views on sex and sexuality and sexual diversity (Akerele, 2010).
Sex education is a widely used approach to prevent sexually transmitted infection andreproductive health promotion. Comprehensive sex education is effective at assisting youngpeople to make healthy decisions about sex and to adopt healthy sexual behaviour (Bridges, 2014).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
There is increase problem in Nigeria today as to moral laxity, promiscuity, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), forced marriage, school dropout etc. among youths. According to Busari (2003), Physical, psychological, and social attribute of adolescence make youngpeople particularly vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections(STIs).The increase of these problems according Orieh (1981) has been attributed to ignorance of youth about sex education, confusion and frustration resulting from lack of awareness of both the home and the school about the need for sex education in the educational setting. Hence, the relevance of sex education in our educational setting is the justification of the study.
Nowadays, with rapid growth of information,sex information is everywhere. Adolescents are curious about sex. Their curiosity is inevitable, and they are often or not provided with accurate answers on the issues for them. Adolescents often are not able to comprehend fully their exposure to risk. Societies oftencompound young people’s risk by making it difficult for them to learn about sex andreproductive health. Therefore, parents and teachers need to instil correct concepts of sex to adolescents as early as possible before they are misled byindecent magazines and irresponsible media. Moreover, many youth are socially inexperienced and dependent on others,peer pressure often influence them often in a way that can influence their risk. The researcher has observed that when adolescents are not given or provided the necessary information about sex, it places them at risk of gettingpregnant, abortion or even contracting a sexually transmitted disease which make it a problem.When adolescents grow up, they need to learn andadapt to the physiological and psychological changes in different stages of development. The learningobjectives of sex education vary with the age of children and the environment. They need appropriateand continuous counselling and guidance. Parents and teachers are the core people who accompany the children during their adolescence stage asthey grow up, so, parents are also the most appropriate person to give their children sexeducation. The earlier sex education is given at home and in schools, the earlier the adolescent children are able to establish correct concepts on sex, and the easier the parents can handle the situation.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study will attempt to answer the following questions:
1) What are the effects of sex education on adolescent?
2) What is the risk associated with sexual activity among adolescent?
3) What are adolescent attitudes toward sex education?
4) What are the barriers to teaching sex education?
1.4    OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The central main objective of this study is to:
a)    Examine the impact of sex education on adolescent in secondary school.
b)    To identify the risk associated with sexual activity among adolescent.
c)    To examine the attitude of adolescent toward sex education.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will focus on the role of sex education in secondary schools across Benin City. It is equally the belief of findings from this study to identify the importance of teaching sex education. Its implication as well as addressing of social problems confronting our adolescents or teenagers in the secondary school. Teaching of sex education is believed to initiate acceptable intervention programme aimed at addressing the social problems such as broken home, rape, prostitution, teenage pregnancy etc. Findings from the study will further enhance the knowledge and understanding of sex education as well as increase the awareness. It will also assist other researchers with relevant information for further research and studies, hence its relevance for our library. Furthermore, it is hoped that the findings in this study will afford education stakeholders and policy makers the opportunity to appreciate the benefit of teaching sex education in Nigerian secondary schools.
1.6 AREA OF THE STUDY    
Benin City is a city and the capital of Edo state in the southwest part of Nigeria. It is situated approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the Benin River and 320 kilometres (200 mi) by road east of Lagos. The Binis are known for bronze sculpture, its casting and their arts and craft. Benin City is also the home of one of the oldest sustained monarchies in the world. Various festivals are held in Benin City yearly to celebrate various historic occasions and seasons. Benin City is the centre of Nigeria’s rubber industry, and oil production is also a significant industry. Benin City has both public and private secondary schools of different categories which includes, Edo college, Edo Boys High School (Adolo College), Western Boys High School, Garrick Memorial Secondary School, AsoroGrammar School, EghosaGrammar School, EdokpolorGrammar School, Niger College, Presentation National High School, Immaculate Conception College, Idia College, University Of Benin Demonstration School, University Preparatory Secondary SCHOOL, Auntie Maria College, Benin Technical College, Headquarters of Word of Faith Group of schools, Lydia Group of Schools, Nosakhere Model Education Centre and Igbinedion Educational Centre, Federal Government Girls College, Paragon Comprehensive College, Itohan Girls Grammar School. These secondary schools are found among the Local government areas in the city which includes Egor, IkpobaOkha, Oredo and Ovia North-East.Also, these are international private secondary schools, federal colleges, and state owned colleges and secondary schools as well as different private secondary schools, all approved and regulated by the government with different supervising agencies e.g. the SUBEB (State Universal Basis Education Board) and the State Ministry of Education.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS/CONCEPTS
ADOLESCENT: the transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occur during the period from puberty to legal adult (age of majority).
SECONDARY SCHOOL:often referred to as a high school or senior high school, is a school which provides secondary education, between the ages of 11 and 19 depending on location, after primary school and before higher education.
SEX EDUCATION:the provision of information about bodily development, sex, sexuality and relationships, along with skills-building to help young people communicate about and make informed decisions regarding sex and their sexual health.
EDUCATION:the process of facilitating learning or the acquisition of knowledge, skill, values, beliefs and habits. Educational methods include storytelling, discussion, teaching, training and directed research. Education can take place in formal or informal setting and any experience that has a formative effect on the way on thinks, feels, or acts may be considered education