Sex Education in Islamic Curricula: The Saudi Context

Abstract

The current study aims to identify female Islamic studies teachers’ attitudes towards including sex education concepts and to ascertain how many such concepts are included in the Islamic studies and Islamic culture textbooks for general education at elementary, intermediate, and higher levels in Saudi Arabia. The study also explores how Islamic studies teachers’ perspectives regarding sex education statistically relate to their academic background, years of experience, and level of education. The study uses a descriptive methodology and administers a questionnaire to 450 female Islamic studies instructors and a content analysis card to the texts on Islamic studies and culture. The survey concluded that the applicants favoured the inclusion of sex education as it was taught in Saudi Arabia's general Islamic studies courses. However, the sex education concepts in Islamic studies textbooks are inadequate, and there are very few chapters on the subject. No distinctions were found based on academic standing, but there were differences due to years of experience and educational level. KEYWORDS Islamic studies textbooks, Islamic culture, puberty and intimate body parts, female teachers’ attitudes, rights and responsibilities, sexual intercourse