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Press Releases

May 21, 2009

Information Sheet on Ministry of Education’s Sexuality Education (SEd) Programme

Goals of Sexuality Education

  • Provide accurate and adequate knowledge on human sexuality and the consequences of sexual activity so that pupils are able to make informed decisions.
  • Impart intra- and inter-personal skills of problem-solving, decision-making and effective communication so that pupils are able to build responsible and rewarding relationships.
  • Inculcate positive values and attitudes of sexuality so that pupils develop a respect for themselves and others as sexual beings, in line with the national value of the family as the basic unit of society.

Guiding Principles

  • Parents bear the main responsibility for the sexuality education of their children.
  • Sexuality education is premised on the importance of the family as the basic unit of society.
  • Teaching of facts is integrated with the teaching of values, which reflect that of the mainstream society.

Curriculum

  • Sexuality education in schools is covered both in the formal curriculum and co-curricular programmes.
  • The formal curriculum subjects in which topics on sexuality are incorporated include Science, Health Education and Civics and Moral Education.
  • Complementing the formal curricular programme are two co-curricular packages:
    1. MOE’s Growing Years (GY) series for upper primary, lower secondary, upper secondary and post-secondary levels. GY is developmental in nature, spanning the upper primary to post-secondary (JC/CI) levels. It addresses the subject of human sexuality from a holistic perspective, involving the intellectual, emotional, social, physical and ethical aspects of sexuality. It is covered under four main themes: Human Development, Interpersonal Relationships, Sexual Health and Behaviour, and Societal Influences. Schools implement minimum lesson hours of between 2-4 hours per year depending on level for the GY Programmes. (See Annex A (52kb .pdf)).
    2. Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) programme, jointly developed by HPB in consultation with MOE, for Sec 3 and JC/CI1 pupils, which focuses on STIs/HIV education (See Annex B) (52kb .pdf).

Policies on Sexuality Education

  • All schools to provide Sexuality Education.
  • Adoption of GY programme for all government schools. Independent and faith-based aided schools may have their own programmes.
  • Delivery of BDB programme for all Secondary 3 students and JC/CI1 students.
  • Parents may opt their children out of the school’s programme.
  • Schools may tap on relevant expertise and community resources but should follow guidelines on the engagement of external agencies.

Enhancements

  • Sexuality Education is an important programme. The following measures will be adopted to strengthen the delivery of sexuality education in schools.
A) Maintain core focus on building healthy relationships and preventing STIs/HIV/teen pregnancies
  • GY series will continue to be taught from upper primary to post-secondary levels to teach students the importance of building healthy boy-girl relationships and making responsible choices.
  • All Sec 3 and JC/CI1 students will continue to receive BDB which presents accurate information on STIs/HIV and contraception from a health perspective.
  • Mass lecture by HPB/MOE, as well as structured class-based component facilitated by teachers to understand consequences of unsafe sex and help teens acquire necessary skills to say no to sex.
  • Parents of students who require more guidance will be notified and provided with options for referrals to counsellors, health professionals or to attend additional workshops to reinforce awareness of the consequences of unsafe sex, role-play responsible decision-making with respect to sex.
B) Panel of Professionals for Sexuality Education Curriculum Package
  • MOE together with HPB will form a Steering Committee of professionals to advise on and review the curriculum.
  • Steering Committee will include psychologists, counsellors, educationists and medical practitioners and will be chaired by Director-General (Education).
  • COMPASS (COMmunity and PArents in Support of Schools), with representatives from community and parents will periodically review materials taught and provide feedback.
C) Build up a core team of teachers to teach Sexuality Education and external agencies to supplement
  • MOE will continue to work with schools to train a core team of teachers to teach the main components of our Sexuality Education programme, through the GY series.
  • As more teachers are trained, MOE will itself teach more of the Sexuality Education package.
  • External agencies will still be used to supplement some lessons.
D) Tighten controls and accountabilities in the engagement of external agencies
  • New vetting process will now be centralised at MOE.
  • Vetting process will be tightened with a more stringent checklist to raise the level of accountability of providers.
  • A committee, headed by Director (Education Programme) will vet and approve agencies/trainers on a panel.
  • Schools to select external agencies from the approved panel if they need to supplement programmes delivered by teachers.
    • External agencies can apply to MOE from mid June 09.
    • Agencies to be appointed to the panel by mid Aug 09.
    • Appointed agencies to sign agreement with MOE.
    • The programmes they deliver in schools will be audited.
E) Empower parents with more information
  • More information will be provided to parents such as key messages, guiding principles, the role of parents, school and the community, the scope of topics covered under Sexuality Education, the position on contentious issues and guidelines for the engagement of external vendors.
  • Schools will also provide sufficient information to parents on their Sexuality Education programme, including topics covered at different levels and programmes run by external agencies.
F) Streamline processes for parents to opt out
  • Parents can opt their children out of entire school programme for Sexuality Education or just for individual topics, talks and workshops.
  • Schools will provide opt out forms on their website and write to the parents at the start of each year when they provide information on their overall programme and when they hold separate talks and workshops by external agencies.