Children are learning about sex from pornography as schools fail to provide proper sex education, MPs warn

Children are turning to pornography and societal media to study astir intersexual wellness arsenic schools are failing to supply due activity education, MPs person warned.

The unconventional sources are exposing pupils to an ‘unacceptable consequence of harm’ astatine a clip erstwhile rates of sexually transmitted diseases are soaring, nan cross-party women and equalities committee added.

The committee blamed nan trends connected nan ‘absence of charismatic advice’ and called for relationships and activity acquisition (RSE) to beryllium taught up to nan property of 18.

Moreover, nan benefits of condom usage ‘must beryllium a cardinal portion of nan curriculum’ to curb nan dispersed of illness arsenic their usage is falling, nan MPs said.

The committee’s latest report, published today, said: ‘In schools, location is compelling grounds that relationships and activity acquisition (RSE) is failing young people.’

‘In nan absence of charismatic advice, young group are learning astir activity and intersexual wellness from online sources, societal media and pornography. This exposes children to an unacceptable consequence of harm.’

The committee criticised nan Government for ‘failing to heed warnings’ complete backing cuts to intersexual wellness services.

It said that backing has reduced year-on-year, while infection rates person increased.

The latest figures connected STIs successful England – described arsenic ‘deeply concerning’ and a ‘red flag’ by nan committee – show location were 392,453 caller diagnoses successful England successful 2022, which is balanced to much than 1,000 each time and an summation of 23.8 per cent compared pinch 2021.

Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who leads nan women and equalities committee, said: ‘Sexual wellness services are astatine breaking point.

‘The 2022 information connected STIs is simply a reddish emblem and should promote everyone to do better.’