Cameron Brooks
The Scottish Government is being urged to ensure sex education is taught in all primary and secondary schools.
Aberdeen University medical student Jack Fletcher is campaigning for the state to take responsibility, saying many parents feel uncomfortable talking to their children about puberty, body confidence and sex.
The 24-year-old – a leading member of UK-wide student group Sexpression – said better provision would help reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies and tackle homophobia, which he says is “rife” in schools.
Mr Fletcher has lodged a petition at the Scottish Parliament in an attempt to bring Scotland’s education policies into line with countries such as France, Germany, Norway and Sweden.
The fourth-year student, who has visited schools in Aberdeen to observe existing lessons, said he decided to act because the sex education he received at school in Stirling was “awful”.
In a petition, signed by 528 people, Mr Fletcher says: “At present, there is no statutory SRE (sex and relationships education) in the education system.
“I feel very strongly that this is an area that needs vast improvement and that legislation should be passed for comprehensive high quality SRE to be taught as statutory in schools at primary and secondary level, with age appropriate measures taken towards content.”
Mr Fletcher said Scottish Government research showed a quarter of schools do not have trained SRE staff and only 13 primary schools formally offer lessons.
A spokesman for The Educational Institute of Scotland said: “Teachers are trained to deal with these subjects in an appropriate manner.
“This is always aimed at complementing the important role of parents in guiding their children on these sensitive issues.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Learning about relationships, sexual health and parenthood is an important part of curriculum for excellence and we are currently reviewing the guidance on sex education in Scottish schools.
“Ministers are considering the responses received as part of a wide engagement undertaken as part of that review.”