Should schools teach sex education?

Absolutely.

Currently there are hardly any requirements for state schools in England to teach sex education. There are no dedicated lessons and what little is taught is done through science classes. There is not even a legal requirement for schools to teach about contraception, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is an absolute disgrace!

Why do I pose the question?

Because the government is finally making sex and relationship education compulsory for all 5-16 year olds. And they should be applauded.

The story has hit the headlines because schools will now start teaching kids as young as 5 but much of the concern is pure scaremongering as the issue of sexual intercourse, for example, will not be discussed with children until the age of 11.

This is necessary because somethings needs to be done to halt the epidemic of teenage pregnancies - the highest in Europe - which is a national scandal and the spread of STIs.

Some argue that it should be the job of parents to teach about sex and that teaching pupils about sex will encourage kids to experiment. These arguments are ridiculous and need to be debunked. First, parents are clearly not doing a good enough job in teaching about the consequences of sex, given the appalling high rates of teenage pregnancy and increase in STIs. Second, the idea that by talking about sex kids will then participate more is ludicrous. It is not the act of sex that kids seem unknowledgeable about - it is the consequences of the act.

By having a responsible sex education programme, children will know the facts, will be able to make informed decisions and damaging myths about sex that dominate in playgrounds up and down the country will be corrected.

My memories of sex education are limited because my classmates and i were not taught much. We were taught very little at all about STIs, for example. The only dedicated sex education lesson i remember was taken by the school nurse. She asked for other names for the word 'condom'. My mate shouted out: "rubber jonny," to which she replied: "oh, i haven't heard that one for a while." Enough said!