Sexuality Education An Important And Compulsory Part Of...

Sexuality education is an important and compulsory part of the New Zealand (NZ) Curriculum. Sexuality education is important so young people can feel empowered about their sexuality and make positive informed decisions. Sexuality education across the country follows a similar outline regulated by the Ministry of Education (MoE) but different students have various experiences and learn different knowledge of sexuality in schools. I went to a religious all-girls school and throughout this assignment I will be discussing my sexuality education in reference to significant topics. These include the official and unofficial curriculum, heteronormativity, homophobia and the missing discourse of desire. The official curriculum in schools refers to the formal curriculum in schools that is explicitly set out in school policy and forms a deliberate and intentional part of the curriculum. This occurs in areas such as biology, religious studies and sexuality education. The official curriculum is said to be â€Å"non-sexist, non-racist, non-discriminatory as well as students’ abilities to be affirmed and their learning needs as addressed (Minstry of Education, 2007). In schools the official curriculum mostly features teaching of contraception, reproductive health, pregnancy, basic anatomy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) (Allen, L., 2011). Schools stress this information and my school were no different from this. At my high-school we learnt about these topics from year nine to year