EFFECTS OF SEX EDUCATION ON GENDER EXPRESSION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EDUCATION DISTRICT V OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The effect of sex education among secondary school students cannot be over-emphasised, as it affects their knowledge of gender expression and academic performance. Hence, this study aimed to find out how the teaching and learning of sex education affects students’ gender expression and overall academic performance in Lagos State’s senior secondary schools. The study is based on social learning theory. Descriptive design type was adopted. The sample comprises 200 senior secondary schools’ students selected using simple random sampling technique. A self-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to determine the reliability value using test-retest method and to test the two research hypotheses formulated at 0.05 level (2-tailed) of significance. Findings from the results show there is a significant influence of sex education on students’ gender expression in Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State; Learning of sex education has significant influence on academic performance in Senior Secondary Schools students in Lagos State. In conclusion, this study found that sex education engenders proper gender expression amongst secondary school students and also improve their academic performance. It is therefore recommended that more emphasis should be laid on teaching and learning of sex education by education policy makers at all levels of the education system to prevent sexual misbehavior and to enable the school and students alike achieve their curricula objectives. It is also suggested that schools, in cooperation with parents, the community and health care professionals, should play a major role in creating awareness and promoting on sex education among young adults.