The Sexuality Road, a new resource for teachers, was launched this week by Family Planning and aimed to empower young people to make decisions about their sexual journey.
It included different lesson plans, activities and resources for pupils in years 5-8.
Tahuna Normal Intermediate had trialled the year 8 programme, with parental consent, and would carry out consultations within the school community to determine if it would use it in the future, teacher Yvonne Toa said.
She was impressed with the programme and said it had empowered her pupils.
"Knowledge empowers them to make good decisions," she said.
New aspects introduced with the programme were tolerance, terminology, reproduction and contraception.
They also "revisited" puberty, which allowed more in-depth learning.
Mrs Toa believed the pupils had responded "really well" to it.
"I must say I have been really impressed with where they are at."
Dunedin Family Planning health promoter Gayna McConnell said the programme aimed to educate pupils about puberty and sexuality, as evidence showed they were maturing and experimenting at a younger age.
"A lot of our young people by 12 years are engaging in some degree of intimate contact. They are already on the sexuality road."
The Youth 2007 survey reported 40% of year 9 pupils had "spent a long time kissing or touching someone".
Research showed comprehensive sexuality education delayed engagement in sex, rather than promoted it, Ms McConnell said.
Values and morals needed to come from the home, and parents needed to talk about sexuality issues with their children, but "basic biology, conception and scenarios around decision making" could be taught in schools as part of the curriculum.
Family Planning health promoters were able to support teachers in delivering the programme comprehensively.
The message Ms McConnell wanted to get across to pupils was about safety, readiness, health and the idea "this belongs to you, it's your journey, make your decisions and speak up for them whenever the time comes".
Several Christchurch-based schools had already trialled the programme and adopted it.
Topics covered
• Year 5: Puberty, eggs and sperm, uniqueness, the notion of contraception, friendships, decision making.
• Year 6: Puberty and hygiene, gender, feelings, pressure, assertive responses, support services.
• Year 7: Differences between males and females, why puberty occurred, friendships, stereotypes, pregnancy, rights and responsibilities, conception, pregnancy.
• Year 8: Difference between sex and gender, diversity, acceptance, emotions, assertiveness, limits, effects of alcohol and pressure, sexually transmitted infections.
- Source: Family Planning
