Spotlight: School-Based Relationships and Sexuality Education
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Oireachtas Library & Research Service | Spotlight 1 Spotlight School-based relationships and sexuality education (RSE): lessons for policy and practice Dr. Ann Nolan, Senior Parliamentary Researcher (Social Science) 24th September 2018 Abstract There is clear evidence that school-based sex education programmes can improve sexual health outcomes. Women who have experienced sex education in schools are less likely to have experienced rape, abortion or distress about sex. Many factors combine to affect health and sex education will not override the determinants of health in general. The aim of this Spotlight is to consider the national and international policy architecture for school-based sex education, which favours a liberal and comprehensive approach, and to review current provision for sex education in post-primary schools in Ireland. The Spotlight will critique Ireland’s historical relationship with sex education and conduct a rapid evidence assessment of good practice guidance for sex education programming in the liberal tradition generally favoured by European democracies. School-based Relationships and Sexuality Education | Spotlight 2 Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Legal Disclaimer ...................................................................................................................... 3 Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 What is school-based sex education? .................................................................................... 8 2. The Policy Architecture for Sexuality Education ..................................................................... 10 3. The Policy Context ................................................................................................................. 13 3.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................. 13 3.2 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Ireland ................................................................. 15 3.3 HIV and AIDS in Ireland....................................................................................................... 17 3.4 Crisis Pregnancy in Ireland .................................................................................................. 17 4. Historical Overview of School-based Sexuality Education in Ireland ...................................... 19 4.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................. 19 4.2 “Lifeskills” controversy ......................................................................................................... 20 4.3 The introduction of sex education ‘by stealth’ ...................................................................... 22 4.4 The Expert Advisory Group on Relationships and Sexuality Education................................ 23 5. Current Provision for Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in Ireland ....................... 26 5.1 Overview of the current programme .................................................................................... 27 5.2 Reviews of RSE .................................................................................................................. 28 5.2.1 RSE resource materials ................................................................................................ 29 5.2.2 Quality of provision........................................................................................................ 29 5.2.3 Whole school support .................................................................................................... 30 5.2.4 Teacher training ............................................................................................................ 30 5.2.5 Programme planning ..................................................................................................... 30 5.2.6 Review of the RSE programme ..................................................................................... 31 6. Good Practice for Relationships & Sexuality Education ......................................................... 33 6.1 Introduction: A contested evidence-base ............................................................................. 34 6.2 The school as provider of relationships and sexuality education .......................................... 35 6.2.1 School-based RSE is associated with positive reported outcomes ................................... 36 6.2.2 Effectiveness of school-based or school-linked sexual health services ............................. 36 6.3 Effectiveness of different sexuality and relationship education programmes ........................ 36 6.4 Professionals’ and young people’s views on different approaches to RSE .......................... 36 6.4.1 Life skills approach ........................................................................................................... 37 6.4.2 Risky behaviour approach ................................................................................................ 37 6.4.3 Abstinence approach ........................................................................................................ 37 6.4.4.‘Sex-positive’ approach ..................................................................................................... 37 6.4.5 Culturally and age-sensitive approaches .......................................................................... 38 6.5 Programme characteristics: sufficient duration and intensity ................................................ 38 6.5.1 Interactive and engaging .................................................................................................. 38 Oireachtas Library & Research Service | Spotlight 3 6.5.2 Safe and confidential learning environments .................................................................... 38 6.6 Who should deliver school-based sex education? ............................................................... 38 6.6.1 School teachers and teacher training ................................................................................ 39 6.6.2 Sexual health professionals .............................................................................................. 39 6.6.3 Peer educators ................................................................................................................. 39 6.7 Factors to consider when developing new sex education programmes ................................ 39 6.8 Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) young people ............................ 42 6.9 The Role of Parents ............................................................................................................. 42 6.10 Online Pornography ........................................................................................................... 45 6.11 Consent .......................................................................................................................... 46 6.12 Sex Education and Disability ............................................................................................. 47 7. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 49 Appendix A: Methodology ............................................................................................................. 51 Appendix B: Definitions ................................................................................................................. 52 The Library and Research Service would like to acknowledge, with thanks, Dr. David Limond, School of Education, University of Dublin, Trinity College, for peer reviewing this paper. Legal Disclaimer No liability is accepted to any person arising out of any reliance on the contents of this paper. Nothing herein constitutes professional advice of any kind. This document contains a general summary of developments and is not complete or definitive. It has been prepared for distribution to Members to aid them in their parliamentary duties. Some papers, such as Bill Digests are prepared at very short notice. They are produced in the time available between the publication of a Bill and its scheduling for second stage debate. Authors are available to discuss the contents of these papers with Members and their staff but not with members of the No.2 general public. December 2017 © Houses of the Oireachtas 2018 School-based Relationships and Sexuality Education | Spotlight 4 Summary The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) claim that sexuality education leads to improved sexual and reproductive health outcomes, including a reduction in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and unintended pregnancy.1 Women who have experienced sex education in schools are less likely to have experienced rape, abortion or distress about sex.2 Contrary to widely expressed fears, international evidence appears to suggest that sex education does not promote early sexual initiation but rather