Xinhua reports that over ninety percent of parents agree that there should be an increase in sex education in the school curriculum.
A survey, conducted by Beijing News and NGO the Maple Women’s Psychological Counseling Centre, was completed by 107 children in ages ranging from 6 to 14, as well as over 1,100 parents. The questionnaire took place in the wake of several abuse and rape scandals against children.
Children received little such education either from schools or from parents, and also they have weak awareness or capability to cope with such sexual offenses.
Only 8.3 percent of parents know for sure their kids have sex education classes at school, while 43.5 percent of parents said there are no such classes at their kids’ schools.
Though 68.4 percent of parents said they had taught their kids sex-related knowledge, merely 18.6 percent ever told their children how to ask for help or escape when victimized.
Meanwhile, 38 percent of children professed ignorance about protecting their bodies, and only 37.9 percent of parents have educated their youngsters about private parts which no one else can touch.
Not only is this lack of sex education dangerous in regards to children when dealing with sexual abuse, this rampant unawareness of the facts on human sexuality also leads to potential health problems. A rising number of students with HIV is troubling to say the least, and emblematic of young people unaware of how to protect themselves. A high number of unwanted pregnancies in women under 25 also speaks to this point. It is up to the government if they want to help their people by enlightening them with the facts of human sexuality through education instead of perpetuating and misguiding them into sexual ignorance.
[Image credit: Rex Pe]
