Assessment of Family Life Education Delivery in Secondary Schools in Cross River State

This study assesses the delivery of family life education in secondary schools in Cross River State, South South Nigeria. Family life education encompasses instruction in human development, interpersonal relationships, sexual health, parenting, and family resource management, and its effective delivery is critical to preparing adolescents for responsible adulthood. The study employs a descriptive survey design, targeting Home Economics teachers responsible for family life education content delivery and their SS2 students in twenty public secondary schools in Calabar South and Ikom local government areas. Data were collected from 100 teachers and 400 students using separate structured questionnaires. Objectives include evaluating teachers' competency in delivering sensitive family life topics, assessing student knowledge and comfort levels with family life education content, and identifying barriers to comprehensive delivery. Recent literature from South South Nigeria identifies teacher discomfort with reproductive health topics, parental resistance, and inadequate instructional materials as the principal barriers to effective family life education. Data were analysed using mean scores, t-tests, and chi-square. The Comprehensive Sexuality Education Framework guides the study. Findings are expected to reveal selective topic avoidance by teachers and significant student knowledge gaps in reproductive health. Recommendations target the Cross River State Ministry of Education, school boards, and teacher training institutions regarding comprehensive family life education training and standardised materials. Keywords: family life education, secondary schools, reproductive health, adolescents, Cross River State.