SCHOOLS are failing to teach sex and relationships education properly -- according to the pupils themselves. Not all second-level schools are delivering lessons -- and where they do, they may not be interesting or helpful enough.
The views of 12- to 18-year-olds on the inadequacy of sex education in the classroom are highlighted in a new report.
A survey carried out by teenagers themselves found that only 25pc of pupils had classes in Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE).
And almost 40pc felt that the classes were not very helpful for teenagers who want information about issues such as AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and contraception.
One student commented: "The days of the watered-down Ladybird book version of the bees and birds have come to an end."
The survey of 354 pupils in 162 schools was carried out under the auspices of Dail na nOg, the annual youth parliament.
All schools are obliged to deliver Social and Personal Health Education (SPHE), including RSE, from primary school up to third year.
SPHE is not taught after the Junior Cert, but schools are obliged to continue teaching RSE up to sixth year.
While 86pc of first, second and third years surveyed said they had SPHE classes in 2009, only 25pc of post-Junior Certificate students had RSE classes.
The survey found that 32pc of schools taught RSE as part of religion, 21pc through SPHE, 6pc through biology and 1pc through home economics and social education.
While 67pc of pupils felt that it was important to learn RSE in school, 39pc agreed that the classes were not very helpful in the way they were run.
SIC: II