Perceptions on knowledge and understanding acquired by secondary school learners from sex education to reduce sex-related problems in the Libode District in the Eastern Cape : Implications for school management

摘要

The study investigates whether knowledge and understanding acquired by secondary school learners from sex education in schools contribute to meaningful reduction of sex-related problems amongst them. The study was undertaken in the Eastern Cape in the Libode District (Nonesi Circuit). Data was collected from one hundred and thirty learners of five junior secondary schools of the Libode District (Nonesi Circuit).The respondents were learners with ages varying between 12 and 18 years, grades 7-9 (females and males). A quantitative approach and qualitative approach (mixed-method approach) was used. A survey design in the form of questionnaire was selected in the study. Nonesi circuit has a population of twenty junior secondary schools with a total enrolment of 2500 learners. Out of this population, a sample of five junior secondary schools was used. The five junior secondary schools were selected purposively. The sample consisted of twenty-six learners from each junior secondary school. Questionnaires were personally distributed, administered and collected by myself in the five junior secondary schools. The study findings revealed that learners understand the knowledge they acquired from sex education to prevent pregnancy and sex related diseases. The study also showed that knowledge and understanding acquired by learners from sex education is not effective enough to empower them to prevent pregnancy and sex-related diseases. The study highlighted the point that secondary school learners know and use other available sources of information on sex education after school to empower them to reduce pregnancy and sex- related diseases. It also revealed that learners know but do not take responsibility for their own lives regarding prevention of sex-related diseases.