How can we prevent students from becoming confused?

Sex education is essential and has been strengthened in the new 2018 General Education Program, but due to a lack of appropriate delivery methods, many students still have a rather vague understanding of it.

Lecturers at Dong Nai Medical College introduce students to the topic of reproductive health. Photo: Contributor.

Inadequate sex education from both families and schools can have long-lasting consequences for the healthy development of students, especially high school students, when they begin relationships with the opposite sex that are difficult to control.

Concerns about school age

The principal of a private high school shared: Students are becoming increasingly comfortable expressing their views, and even their actions, about gender and sexuality. Meanwhile, many teachers are still hesitant to teach students about gender and sexuality. Even those closest to the children on a daily basis—parents—are hesitant or unsure about how to educate them on this important issue.

When both families and schools lack effective sex education methods for students, negative consequences are even more likely to occur. The principal mentioned above shared: Last school year, the school had a case of a 12th-grade female student becoming pregnant. As a result, this student had to take time off from school to become a mother early, while she had many plans for her upcoming adulthood. The school deeply regretted this case but could not continue to "keep" her in school.

A school administrator at another private high school in Tam Hiep ward said: At the high school age, students easily develop romantic feelings for the opposite sex, but lack guidance from both the school and their families. It's not uncommon for the school to have to remind students, or even invite parents to school to discuss the students' "situation." It's not uncommon for students in the classroom to openly display intimate "gestures" that go beyond the boundaries of a typical school friendship. In some exceptional cases, students even arrange to meet in the school's restrooms at lunchtime to "talk," forcing the school to rearrange the male and female restrooms and install additional surveillance cameras outside.

Some teachers in the province believe that it's normal for high school students to develop romantic feelings for the opposite sex. However, what worries them is that when students become engrossed in these feelings, it will affect their studies. Some students openly display inappropriate displays of affection in front of the class, which can negatively impact other students. Due to limited awareness of reproductive health, this can lead to unsafe sexual practices, affecting their health and even resulting in unwanted pregnancies.

We need to "guide" students to stay on the right path.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Vietnam has approximately 300,000 abortions each year, with about 30% occurring among those aged 15-19. The increasing number of abortions annually is directly proportional to the rise in infertility rates. Even more worrying is the situation where students, after experiencing unwanted pregnancies, seek abortions at substandard reproductive health clinics to conceal their pregnancies from their parents, further increasing their risk of future infertility.

According to Dr. Pham Quang Nhat, Deputy Head of the Family Planning Department at Tu Du Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), today's students are heavily influenced by films and social media, making them easily curious about sexuality, leading to early sexual desires and romantic feelings for the opposite sex. Most of these students, before engaging in sexual activity, lack a full understanding of safe sex practices, due to a lack of attention or reluctance from both families and schools to educate students on safe sex practices.

To support schools in enhancing students' education on adolescent reproductive health, gender issues, and safe sex, the Department of Education and Training collaborates with the Department of Health annually to send health officials to schools to educate students on these issues. However, this is not solely the responsibility of the school; parents, especially female students, must also be the closest to their children to remind, educate, and guide them on measures to ensure their own safety.

Deputy Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training , DO THANH TAM

According to Dr. Pham Quang Nhat, while early sexual relationships among students are unavoidable, families and schools can help them avoid both immediate and long-term consequences. First and foremost, schools and families need to guide students towards building wholesome friendships during their school years, openly discussing sensitive issues related to sexual relationships, and especially equipping them with safe sex practices.

According to Vu Thi Ni Na, Principal of Le Quy Don High School in Tan Mai (Tam Hiep ward), a more open-minded approach is needed when discussing safe sex among students. Avoiding the topic will make it difficult to teach them how to prevent negative consequences from unsafe sexual practices. Besides the role of teachers, schools can also proactively contact and invite reproductive health specialists to speak with students. These professionals possess sufficient expertise to help students understand the issue better and develop the skills to protect themselves.

Cong Nghia

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/giao-duc/202511/lam-sao-de-hoc-sinh-khoi-lo-mo-db73539/