The Role of Social Studies in the Implementation of Sexuality Education Curriculum in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The role of social studies in the implementation of sexuality in Lagos State cannot be underrated. Sexuality education being a new educational programme has been implemented in Lagos State through Social Studies as a carrier subject. In other words, sexuality education is not introduced in the schools as a subject but integrated into social studies. Sexuality education is a life long process of instilling in the young people positive values and attitudes towards human sexuality in order to develop selfesteem and the skills for making rational and responsible decisions concerning their sexual and reproductive behaviour. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of social studies in the implementation of sexuality education curriculum in Lagos State, Nigeria. Some research questions were raised to guide the study. Descriptive survey was employed to collect data. 300 teachers were involved in the study. Questionnaires developed by the researchers and duly validated were administered on
the respondents to elicit information from them. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results obtained revealed that the implementation of sexuality education is faced with many challenges vis-à-vis lack of subject specialists, inadequate training, and insufficient funding by government among others. The researchers recommend the following: 1. Recruitment of qualified teachers, 2. Preservice and in-service training for teachers and 3. Adequate funding by the government to improve the implementation of the curriculum.