Sexual Education: An Intervention and Social Adjustment Programme for Youths in Secondary Education in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the importance of sexuality education as an intervention and social adjustment programme for youth in secondary education in Nigeria. For this purpose, the study sought to find out using three research questions; the importance of sexuality education in secondary education; the extent to which sexuality education served as an intervention and social adjustment programme for youths in secondary education; and the extent to which sexuality education was taught in the curriculum of secondary education. The study being a survey research adopted the descriptive survey research design in order to collect data. A multiple statistical sampling procedure was used in selection of 10% of 5, 926 teachers and 261 public secondary schools within the six education zone in Anambra State. However, the sample of the study constituted 593 teachers from 26 public secondary schools. A questionnaire titled: Sexuality Education Questionnaire for Teachers (SEQT), containing 44 items and drawn on a modified Likert type of 4-point scale was used by the researchers to conduct the study. Validity of the research instrument was carried out by three experts and reliability established using the split half method which yielded a coefficient value of 0.75 using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient after the results were collated. Data was analyzed using frequency distribution and the mean at 2.50 rating. Through the findings of the study, recommendations were proffered and among such included: proper enhancement of sexuality education in secondary education curriculum through the provision of effective policy directives; including constant and continuous teachers training, organizing seminars and workshops for teachers in the light of sexuality education.