Reasons parents should educate their children on morality, sex

It is very important to teach teenagers about sex in a way that will not only reflect the values of the family and society, but also enhance sustainability of a balanced culture. Having sex is primal, intrinsic human nature that emerges, particularly in teenagers in different form and at different times.Apparently, if parents do not […]

It is very important to teach teenagers about sex in a way that will not only reflect the values of the family and society, but also enhance sustainability of a balanced culture. Having sex is primal, intrinsic human nature that emerges, particularly in teenagers in different form and at different times.
Apparently, if parents do not educate the teenagers in their homes and respective communities on sex and sex related issues, there is a tendency for them to learn it from other sources of social learning, such as, peer group or mass media.
 Sex education is not only significant as a developmental process in the life of a teenager, but helps him or her understand the dangers in the immediate environment and the risks that could emerge from such interactions.
 In other words, they will gain knowledge on the ability to protect themselves and alert others of the threats of sexual exploitation if educated.
The early education provides the teenagers with the information they need to understand their bodies and roles in positive ways. The education will further inform them about the dangers involved in sex before marriage, and also bring better understanding of humanity, reproductive rights and developmental processes such as puberty among others.
It provides safety for those whose lives are already infiltrated by messages from the media that may not reflect core family values, thereby sending messages of self appreciation; self esteem and highlight the facts that the change they are experiencing or would experience is indeed normal.
Humans are curious animals and young people are prone to explore  due to intrinsic curiosity. Peer pressure and media are enormous influence in the lives of the present generation, and if the teenagers did not acquire sound knowledge about sex, somehow they will learn in a way that may have devastating consequences.
 Some education will serve to counter  the war that has been declared against family values by some elements  of the mass media.
The focal objective of this awareness is to guide against the increasing number of teenagers who are now victims of unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), HIV/AIDS that is frequently found among them all over the globe, thus in return destroying the future leaders of various communities.
Effective awareness on sex related issues will help to minimise the high rate of sexual abuse among the teenagers, because when they are well informed about sex and its consequences, it will help to minimise the high rate of sexuality among them and they will grow up with such moral values, which will distinguished them from animals.
More so, they are most regarded as the work force of any economy, because without them the labour force in most communities will be inactive and dormant. So, when such group of people are well preserved from the dangers of sex outside marriage through awareness at their early age, there will be a great chance of that economy growing faster and stronger.
Ali writes from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.