15 Feb 06

Sexuality Education in Schools is Secular

1. I refer to the recent letters published in the Straits Times Forum regarding sexuality education in schools.
2. MOE's sexuality education is premised on the importance of the family, and respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities on sexuality issues. It aims to inculcate values and equip students with essential knowledge and skills to make responsible choices on sexuality matters and issues.
3. Sexuality education is implemented using a cross-curricular approach with different themes at each stage of education. In the formal curriculum, topics on sexuality education are incorporated in Health Education, Science and Civics and Moral Education. In the Lower Secondary Science syllabus, every student learns about topics such as reproduction and methods of contraception.
4. Complementing the curricular programme is the co-curricular package called the "Growing Years' Series". The series is developmental in nature, spanning the upper primary to post-secondary levels. Further details can be found at the Growing Years series website.
5. Schools engage the Health Promotion Board and other external agencies to conduct supplementary sexuality workshops. The guiding principles on teaching sexuality education, as outlined above, should also apply to these workshops.
6. MOE will be issuing a reminder to schools that the content of sexuality education programmes delivered by external agencies should be secular. Schools should ensure that such programmes are sensitive to the multi-religious make-up of our schools.
7. While mission schools may offer their students religion-based sexuality education workshops, they should in these instances make clear to students the fact that such workshops include a particular religious perspective, and allow students the choice of withdrawing from such programmes if they wish.
8. We regularly gather feedback to refine our approach to sexuality education. The stakeholders we consult include parents, community representatives, medical practitioners, social workers, students and teachers, and cover the different religious and racial groups. We are aware of the challenges of ensuring that sexuality education promotes responsible choices and behaviour, in the context of changing social attitudes and norms. We will review the approach and delivery of the sexuality education programme in schools on a regular basis.
9. However, sexuality education in school is meant to support, not replace, the role of parents in teaching children the moral aspects of sexuality. This joint effort is essential for our children to develop appropriate attitudes and values on sexuality. If parents have any concerns about workshops in school that are conducted by external agencies, I encourage them to approach the school.

Sum Chee Wah (Ms)
Director
Education Programmes Division

Recent Letters:

• “Don't resolve social issues dogmatically” (Harvey Neo Choong Tiong, ST Forum, 2/2)
• “Sexuality workshop an eye-opener for teens” (Dr Gabriel Oon Chong Jin, ST Forum, 7/2)
• “Educators should not favour any religion” (Teng Kie Zin, ST Forum, 9/2)
• “Scare-mongering is counter-productive” (Wong Chen Seong, ST Forum, 9/2)