Sex education in South Australia: the perspectives of pre-service teachers

Joy Talukdar, Poulomee Datta

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

The rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and teenage pregnancy is high in South Australia (SA), specifically among adolescents and young adults. Research advocates that the latter age group primarily depends on school-based sex education for their health-related behaviours. School-based sex education in SA is delivered via the Health and Physical Education Curriculum (HPE). The present study presents the perspectives of pre-service teachers in SA (N=272) towards three issues in particular: the role of an effective education in promoting health-seeking behaviours, the adequacy of the aforesaid curriculum to addressing sex education in SA, and the factors responsible for a lack of compulsory sex education. Based on the findings of the present study, a 'Cycle of Ignorance' in relation to sex education in SA is formulated. This is particularly significant in the wake of the National HPE Curriculum in Australia. The findings of this study, therefore, have implications for policy and practice regarding sex education in SA.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSex education
Subtitle of host publicationattitude of adolescents, cultural differences and schools' challenges
EditorsMaureen C. Kenny
Place of PublicationHauppauge, New York
PublisherNova Science Publishers
Chapter10
Pages221-242
Number of pages22
ISBN (Electronic)9781633216914
ISBN (Print)9781611220124
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameEducation in a competitive and globalizing world

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • HPE curriculum
  • Preservice teachers
  • Sex education
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • South Australia

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