Using drawings as participatory methodology to support teachers in teaching Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Author : Christa Beyers

Abstract :The fact that many young people are at risk to fall pregnant at an early age, drop out of school or contract sexually transmitted infections, could be because of conflicting and confusing messages that youth receive about sexuality. Although teaching about sex and relationships has been implemented in South African schools as part of the Life Orientation subject since 2000, research has shown that adults, specifically teachers, do not respond to the needs of youth for comprehensive sexuality education. The question thus remains as to whether youth get the information they require. In this presentation, I present drawings produced by teacher participants to investigate the beliefs that teachers hold regarding young people’s needs from sexuality education. Findings suggest that teachers do have a sound knowledge of what youth require to make healthy decisions, but they prefer to ignore the social aspects of sexual behaviour. The findings call for participatory approaches, also from youth, to enhance the teaching of comprehensive sexuality education

Keywords :Comprehensive sexuality education; teenage pregnancy; sexual health; adolescents.

Conference Name :International Conference on Advanced Teaching Instructions and Learning (ICATIL-25)

Conference Place Malaga, Spain

Conference Date 6th Mar 2025