英國政府于本周四宣布，為了降低未婚少女懷孕率，政府擬將性教育列為英國中國小生的必修課程。
據英國《每日電訊》報道，中國小事務大臣吉姆•奈特將在公布一份戀愛與性教育研究報告的同時，正式宣布這一計畫。
奈特于本月早些時候在下議院會議中指出，很多年輕人稱他們不十厘清楚自己怎樣做才是安全和負責任的。
盡管英國的少女懷孕率在過去20年中下降了13%，但奈特說，這一問題仍然較嚴重。英國的少女懷孕率為西歐最高。
他說：“我收到了很多針對這一問題的提案，其中包括要求政府出台個人、社會及健康教育等各方面的法令。”
英國政府于1999年製定目標，計畫到2010年將少女懷孕率減少一半。
目前英國學校隻開設有青春期和生殖方面的生物課程。國小生隻能在自然課中學到一些相關知識。
《每日電訊》報道說，新課程將加大與人相處及性健康方面的內容。
the daily telegraph newspaper said schools minister jim knight will unveil the move when he publishes the findings of a review of sex and relationship education.
earlier this month, knight told mps that many young people had told the review they did not know enough to make safe and responsible choices about relationships and sexual health.
although teenage pregnancy rates have fallen 13 percent over the past 20 years, knight said there is still further to go. britain has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in western europe.
"i have received many representations for making personal, social and health education statutory in order to address the problem," he said.
the government set itself a target in 1999 to half the teenage pregnancy rate by 2010.
at present schools only have to teach pupils about the biology of puberty and reproduction. in primary schools, sex education comes under the science curriculum.
the new curriculum is expected to increase greater emphasis on building relationships and sex health, the daily telegraph said.