School advisers shun celibacy play

Is celibacy the best way?

Sex education advisers have urged schools not to book sessions with a theatre company which tells pupils "the safest sex is no sex".

Advisers for East Sussex County Council say the message of sexual abstinence from the Canadian Challenge Team is unsuitable for teenagers.

The recommendation comes after eight secondary schools in the area had visits from the theatre group which uses sketches to convey the message that abstinence is an option when it comes to sex.

It is believed some schools in the area are considering inviting the company back later this year.

"Members of our team went to see it and were quite anxious about some of the messages it was portraying," Marilyn Stephens, head of the personal, social and health education (PSHE) team.

"In particular, its anti-condom message was not helpful," she said.

"There were also some wrong facts about HIV and Aids."

Advice

But a spokesman for East Sussex County Council said it did not have the right to order head teachers to ban the group from their schools.

"We can only advise them that we don't think this is appropriate," he said.

The Challenge Team defended its approach to sex education.

"We are not anti-sex, nor are we trying to scare kids away from sex," the group's Rebecca Visser told the Daily Telegraph.

"But our message is that chastity is a positive, realistic and healthy lifestyle."