A similar booklet that will include the topics sex, relationships and contraception may also be offered to pre-teener Britons as part of the school curriculum. The novel, but potentially controversial proposal, is part of the state's effort to curb teenage pregnancies.
But the proposal has a hefty price tag of $298 million (150 million pound).
U.K. has the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in western Europe. It is five times over that of the Netherlands, three times higher than France and double that of Germany. The state aims to reduced to half teenage pregnancy rates by 2010.
Bryant pointed out teenage pregnancies worsen the vicious cycle of under-achievement, benefit dependency, bad health, no aspiration, bad parenting skills and child poverty.
The broader sex education program proposed by Bryant is patterned after that used by Sweden. The basis of his proposal was extensive talks with teenagers and single mothers. "At present most kids will tell you they have been told how to put a condom on a cucumber but that is it. And it is not enough."
A recent study in U.K. confirmed that until today, many youths learn about sex more from magazines, including some pornographic publications, because parents failed to educate their children about sex.
