Children are learning about sex through pornography because schools are failing to provide good sex education, MPs have warned

Children are turning to pornography and social media to learn about sexual health as schools fail to provide good sex education, MPs have warned.

The unconventional sources expose students to an “unacceptable risk of harm” at a time when rates of sexually transmitted diseases are soaring, the cross-party commission for women and equality added.

The committee blamed the trends on the ‘lack of authoritative advice’ and called for relationships and sex education (RSE) to be taught up to the age of 18.

In addition, the benefits of condom use “must be an important part of the curriculum” to combat the spread of disease as their use declines, the MPs said.

The commission’s latest report, published today, said: ‘In schools there is compelling evidence that relationships and sex education (RSE) are failing young people.’

‘In the absence of authoritative advice, young people are learning about sex and sexual health through online resources, social media and pornography. This exposes children to an unacceptable risk of harm.”

The committee criticized the government for ‘failing to heed warnings’ about cuts to sexual health services.

It said funding has declined year on year, while infection rates have increased.

The latest figures on STDs in England – described by the committee as ‘very concerning’ and a ‘red flag’ – show that there were 392,453 new diagnoses in England in 2022, which equates to more than 1,000 per day and an increase of 23, 8 per day. cents compared to 2021.

Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, chair of the Women and Equality Committee, said: ‘Sexual healthcare is at a breaking point.

‘The 2022 STD data is a red flag and should encourage everyone to do better.’