Human Development & Sexual Health

Schools have a unique opportunity to positively influence students through educating, role modeling, and creating healthy and supportive learning environments.

What Works?

The promotion of sexual health in schools is best achieved by:

Understanding Sexual Health Concepts

• Allocating sufficient classroom time to teaching the topic.
• Using the Information Behaviour Motivation (IBM) model.
• Engaging students in planning and delivering of information (Hart’s Ladder).
• Encouraging the role of peer education. Note: peer educators should be well-trained, carefully supervised and be aware of the differences between a supportive role and professional counselling.
• Sexual health education is linked to other relevant curricular objectives and age-appropriate learning outcomes.
• Consistently offering education from the beginning of elementary school to the end of secondary school.
• Presenting information in an age-appropriate manner in a safe, caring, inclusive, and non-judgemental environment.
• Helping students to focus on self-worth, respect, and dignity of the individual.
• Providing education on: developmental changes (e.g. puberty), rewarding interpersonal relationships, challenging of stereotypes, prevention of STI/HIV, effective contraception methods, sexual assault/coercion, sexual orientation, gender identity, evolving gender roles and expectations.

Making Positive Sexual Healthy Choices

• Specifically targeting the behaviours that lead to negative sexual health outcomes (e.g. STI/HIV infection, unintended pregnancy).
• Teaching critical media skills to interpret and assess the sexual imagery on the internet and to differentiate between credible and problematic sources of information.
• Supporting informed decision making by providing students with the knowledge, personal insight, motivation, and behavioural skills that are consistent with each individual’s personal values and choices.

Making Community Connections to Health Services

• Provide opportunities for students to think about their choices and sexual readiness, practice condom use negotiation, and other communication and decision making skills.
• Addressing the impact that behaviours and actions have on others (e.g. concept of consent).
• Combining sexual health education with access to clinical services, counselling and social services and support from family, peers and the community.

Resources

Resources to support implementation can be found in the Healthy Schools Programs and Services Guide. Educators may also contact their School’s Public Health Nurse for additional support and consultation.

For more information, visit our Sexual Health and Healthy Pregnancy web pages.