A report has looked at the effectiveness of sexuality education, which is compulsory in state schools.
The report was commissioned by the Ministries of Women’s Affairs, Health and Education as part of a plan to reduce the number of young people with sexually transmitted infections as well as the high level of teenage pregnancy.
The Education Review Office says although some schools teach the subject well, most sex education is not as effective as it could be, including the assessment of what students are learning.
ERO chief reviewer Graham Stoop says the lack of communication with parents about sex education is simply not good enough. He says consulting with communities has been a requirement for schools since 2002 and schools need to improve their performance.
The ERO also says more than half the schools it looked at, need to improve their programmes to ensure students from different backgrounds get the information they need.
Source: Radio New Zealand