“What makes me laugh about this article is the ages given, ie 15 to 19, surely after 16 they are old enough to consent to having sex and at 18 they are adults so how can parents stop them attending sex education lessons.”

“Sex education has taken place in schools for many years, albeit with the consent of the parents after letters where sent through the post, the parents where then given the oportunity to consent on this education. The majority either didnt reply or consented. Why take away from the parents the choice of how they would like this information transmitted to their children. My concern regarding compulsory sex education is:-
* will it be given in mixed classrooms or will boys.girls be educated seperatly
*will same sex education also be included, I for one do not agree in same sex education, i personally opted out of my son (educated in an all boys school) being given homosexual sex education, this was included in the sex education offerred by the school.
Yes all children need sex education, but it should be up to the parents who know their children when to decide to give them the information,
Teenage pregnancy is around , but then again it has been for may years, getting pregnant is an age old tredition of the human race. Also forgive me for pointing out the obvious sex in this country is not legal until the age of 16, i am also led to believe parents are responsible for the minor until that age so LET them make the choice, There are a lot of responsible parents out there. For thse parents who really do not care one way or the other are failing their children and these are the ones who condone the benifit and housing system we run in this country.”

“Please don't assume all teenage parents are a result of unprotected sex. I'm 18 years old and currently 34 weeks pregnant, at the time of conception I was on the pill, the words of the doctor were - "It's entirely your decision as to whether you use other forms of contraception along side the pill, however, taken correctly, the pill will give you full protection against pregnancy, but obviously not against sexually transmitted infections". Well I never missed a pill, I always took it at the same time of day (7am) and I waited for it to get into my system before I stopped using other methods of contraception. Accidents do happen, no matter how careful you are, and I think sometimes a little credit needs to go to those teenage parents that don't take the easy route out by having an abortion, and that try and give their child the best life they possibly can. Personally, i'm trying my absolute hardest. I passed all my GCSE's, four AS's, and i'm continuing to work now so that by the end of this year hopefully I will have gained 3 A2's. I don't live on a council estate, my child isn't a result of sleeping with a random person whilst drunk, and I have a fully supportive partner with a good income. I don't see myself as a failure, and I know other teenage mums feel the same.

Back to the subject, I think children should be taught sex education from the first year of secondary school. Children are becoming aware of sex from a very young age, mostly through talk of friends, but it's better that they know the facts rather than the rumours they hear from other children. You'll never stamp out teenage parenting completely though.”

“I believe that instead of rewarding young teenage parents they should go back to feeling the same of long ago.

I believe that parents should educate their children and I also believe that if a teenager becomes pregnant the burden should be on the parents and not on the taxpayer.

Make them feel embarrased and ashamed instead of giving them a free ride for the rest of their lives.”

“I dont understand why everyone is so scared to talk about sex?
If your brought up with no knoweledge of sex or what it is then when they get to that age where they will start learning about it ... they'll just go off the rails.

Its like alcohol, if you tell a child they cant drink till 18 then once they get to the age where they're going out with their mates, they will drink and get paraletic!

I would know, im only 17 and even i can realise this.

if you teach them young (im not saying something stupid like 9 but...) then they'll grow up knowing what can happen if you have unprotected sex!

If you looked at half the girls my age ... most are pregnant. i can count the ones i know on 2 hands!”