Internet filling gaps in sex ed
New Zealand’s youth are going online in search of sex education, because they don’t believe they are learning enough in the classroom.
The finding, revealed in a Family Planning survey, has sparked criticism that the Ministry of Education is failing to deliver ‘‘consistent and comprehensive’’ sex education – and for more internet literacy to be taught as part of the curriculum.
But, the ministry says it is undertaking a resource ‘‘stocktake’’ to identify sex education supports for teachers, and will be reviewing its guidelines to keep it up to date.
Just over 1000 young people responded to the youth survey, which found that about 70 per cent had not found relationships and sexuality education very useful, while 10 per cent found none of it useful.
The survey was conducted in October 2018, and most of the respondents were 16 to 17 years old. Of those 27 per cent had found their education was useful or very useful.
Eighty per cent said they would look up information online, but online topics, like pornography and sexting, were the least likely to be covered in the classroom.
Family Planning national health promotional adviser Amanda Hargreaves said the responses showed the ministry was failing to support schools to deliver consistent and comprehensive coverage.
‘‘The New Zealand Curriculum is a great document [but] it’s more descriptive than prescriptive. It uses words like should, could, may. There could be some more direct language, like ‘schools will’.’’
Whenever there was a national crisis, such as at Wellington College and St Patrick’s College in 2017, or the Roastbusters scandal in 2013, the finger was pointed at schools, but the ministry needed to be accountable and show more direction, she said.
It was to be expected that students would turn to the internet for help but skill development in ‘‘digital literacy and critical consumership’’ was required to guide young wouldbe Googlers.
‘‘We’ve got to find a balance between being resourceful and using the internet as a tool, but it’s also about encouraging kids to be discerning.’’
Family Planning chief executive Jackie Edmond said it would be ‘‘far better’’ to have a comprehensive programme – and resourcing for schools was key to that.
‘‘[Then] when they are reaching adolescence, they are not having to search online for information. It would be good for them to be prepared to make good judgments, having a filter as to what is good and bad information.’’
Ministry of Education early learning and student achievement deputy secretary Ellen MacGregor-Reid said parents and caregivers had to have a voice in the teaching of sexuality education.
‘‘Schools are required to consult with their community on the health and physical education curriculum – which
‘‘It would be good to see schools focusing more time and attention on the online aspects of sexuality education since they are so important.’’ Jordan Carter InternetNZ chief executive
includes sexuality education – every two years, to ensure it reflects the needs of the students and their communities.’’
The ministry was doing a ‘‘stocktake’’ of health education resources and would be reviewing the Sexuality Education Guide (2015) to make sure it was ‘‘fit for purpose’’.
In 2017, the ministry launched the Inclusive Education: Supporting LGBTIQA+ Students guide, to provide schools with strategies for supporting students who identify as sex, gender, or sexuality diverse.
It was refreshed at the end of 2018.
Netsafe chief executive Martin Cocker said the Sexuality Education Guide, which Netsafe helped develop, was a first step, but it had to be implemented.
‘‘Inconsistency is common in the education sector, so you get a mixed bag . . . It’s not acceptable, really.’’
Open access to the internet has brought forward ‘‘difficult conversations’’ with children, and for most people, the ‘‘confusing myriad of information’’ online was the first port of call.
InternetNZ chief executive Jordan Carter said social media, electronic messaging and pornography were all part of what young people were encountering.
‘‘It would be good to see schools focusing more time and attention on the online aspects of sexuality education since they are so important.’’
The survey reflected similar findings by the Education Review Office in 2007 and 2018 and Office of Film and Literature Classification 2018 research.
Associate Minister of Education Tracey Martin declined to comment.