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Compulsory sex education is 'essential' to reduce HIV, say Lords

1 min read Education Citizenship Health Sexual health
Compulsory sex and relationships education (SRE) in schools is "essential" to promoting young people's sexual health, a report by the House of Lords Select Committee on HIV and AIDS has claimed.

The report, which brands efforts to prevent HIV and AIDS in the UK as "woefully inadequate", argued that early intervention work in schools is vital to stemming the spread of the disease.

The committee warned that only £2.9m is currently spent by government on national prevention programmes for HIV and AIDs, compared with £762m that is spent on treatment.

Although the committee admitted that government is unlikely to make SRE compulsory as it stands, it claimed that ministers should reconsider their position.

The report said: "We are of the view that a statutory basis for SRE is essential. This would ensure that SRE is given appropriate priority in school timetables, driving the development of consistent standards.

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