In order to find lasting solution to incessant cases of rape and sexual molestation in Oyo State, a member of the state’s House of Assembly, Hon. Wumi Oladeji has called for the inclusion of sex education in schools’ curriculum.
The call was contained in a motion presented on Tuesday’s plenary on “Crucial Need to Introduce Compulsory Sex Education into School Curriculum Right From Childhood”.
Hon. Oladeji, a member representing Ogbomoso North state constituency, disclosed that both culture and religion encourage sex education for children even from tender ages. She added that lack of sex education contributes to increasing social menace being faced in the state.
The Chairman, Committee on Women Affairs and Social inclusion advocated for adequate information and knowledge that will expose children in matter relating to sex.
Hon. Oladeji urged the state government to formulate and adopt a state policy that will enable the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Ministry of Education to incorporate compulsory sex education into schools’ curriculum.
Hon. Ayo Fatokun, representing Akinyele constituency 1, while seconding the motion, called on parents to pay necessary attention to their children in order not to allow outsiders to teach them what they are not supposed to know.
Fatokun also urged the state owned and private media organizations to develop content that will aid in sensitizing children on sex education.
In his contribution, the lawmaker representing Ibadan North 2, Hon. Babajide Gabriel, expressed that the issue of rape or sexual molestation has led to many students dropping out of school at tender ages.
Toeing the line of Hon. Fatokun on sensitization programmes on radio, television and social media, Hon. Adebayo said it will enable the students particularly, the female adequate knowledge to report whenever they want to experience an occurrence of rape or molestation.
In his reaction, the Minority Leader, Hon. Asimiyu Alarape called for implementation of laws on sexual abuse or harassment to bring the perpetrators to book.
Hon. Alarape added that mothers should avail their female children to relate to them by sharing with them experiences as related to sex education.
The Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, while passing the resolutions urged parents and guardians to change their orientation and traditional perception about children on sex education.
