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05901

2 Nov 2001

RELEASE OF THE "GROWING YEARS" SERIES FOR UPPER PRIMARY: CURIOUS MINDS

1.      The Ministry of Education released the "Growing Years" Series for Upper Primary, entitled Curious Minds, to primary schools on Tues 6 November 01. The multi-media resource package, comprising a VCD, CD-ROM and Teacher's Resource File, aims to enhance the teaching of sexuality education at the Upper Primary level. Curious Minds is the second series of the sexuality education resource developed for schools under the Ministry's Framework for Sexuality Education (see information sheet). The first series for Lower Secondary was launched on 16 Oct 2000.

2.      The present series focuses on pre-adolescents coping with the anxieties of growing up and handling changing relationships. Similar to the Lower Secondary series, the VCD presents short dramas centred around key issues and concerns of our pupils regarding sexuality. The CD-ROM allows pupils to learn about sexuality matters, eg the changes and possible challenges associated with puberty. The Teacher’s Resource File provides sample lessons and other useful resource materials that teachers can refer to when planning their sexuality education programme.

3.      As the nature of sexuality education is values-based, government-aided schools may exercise the option of whether to use the package, as they may have alternative programmes in place. For children whose schools have chosen to use the package, their parents have the choice to opt them out of the programme. This was the approach for the Lower Secondary series as well.

4.      The Ministry also recognises that effective collaboration between schools, parents and the community is essential to bring about effective teaching of sexuality education for our children. The VCD and CD-ROM will be made available for sale to parents and the public early next year. Training will be provided for a team of teachers and key personnel who have been identified by the school to conduct the programme. Parents who have volunteered to help schools in conducting the programme will also be trained. This training will be provided by a team of psychologists and legal and medical professionals, as well as guidance specialists from MOE.

5.      In the production of the series, MOE has taken into consideration feedback and views from Principals, teachers, parents, medical professionals, psychologists, social workers and self-help groups, through focus group discussions and feedback sessions.

INFORMATION SHEETON THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S FRAMEWORK FOR SEXUALITY EDUCATION

1.      Sexuality is an issue on which different families and communities hold different views. However, there are key areas and core values that we want to hold as a society, like the concept that a family is the basic unit of society. These are set out in the Framework for Sexuality Education, launched in Oct 2000. The Framework also emphasises the importance of delivering sexuality education in an age-appropriate manner based on four broad themes, namely Human Development, Interpersonal Relationships, Sexual Health and Behaviour, and Society and Culture. The contents of the four themes are thus pitched at pupils' maturity level, and are revisited at different levels of education.

2.      The Framework spells out the guiding principles for the design and delivery of sexuality education, as follows:

3.      The "Growing Years" Series is an enhancement to what is already being done by schools in the area of sexuality education. Currently, related topics are taught in subjects such as Health Education, Civics and Moral Education and Science. Talks and seminars are also conducted for pupils by resource speakers from organisations such as the Ministry of Health and the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association. The Series enhances the above activities by aiming to:

4.      A developmental approach is adopted in the production of the "Growing Years" Series, to target the unique concerns and needs of pupils at the four critical growth stages. They are the Upper Primary (11-12 years), Lower Secondary (13-14 years), Upper Secondary (15-16 years) and Post-Secondary (17-18 years) stages. The Upper Secondary series will be released in 2002 and the Post-Secondary series in 2003. In the production of the series, MOE has taken into consideration feedback and views from Principals, teachers, parents, medical professionals, psychologists, social workers and self-help groups, through focus group discussions and feedback sessions.