MOE Sexuality Education: Scope and teaching approach

Overview

MOE Sexuality Education curriculum is holistic and is based on national mainstream values. It is taught through:

• Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons in primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute
• The Empowered Teens (eTeens) programme in secondary schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute
• Science and Biology lessons

What is unique in MOE’s approach to Sexuality Education?

The MOE Sexuality Education curriculum is designed to:

Meet the developmental and age-appropriate needs of the children and youth

MOE Sexuality Education is taught in a developmentally-appropriate and age-appropriate manner through Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) and Science lessons, focusing on the needs of the children and youth when introducing topics.

Reflect the multi-religious and multi-cultural context of Singapore

MOE Sexuality Education in schools reflects the multi-religious and multi-cultural context of Singapore. It is anchored on Singapore’s prevailing family values and social norms, which the majority of Singaporeans want to uphold. Marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. This is in accordance with Singapore law.

Emphasise personal safety, prevention of abuse and gender-based violence

MOE Sexuality Education is aligned to Singapore’s laws (e.g. Section 376A) to protect minors. Section 376A of the Penal Code states that it is illegal to engage in any sexual activity involving penetration with anyone under 16 years old, regardless of whether they agreed to it or not.

Children and youth learn they have the right to respect, privacy and safety. They develop help-seeking skills and learn to access support resources when their safety is threatened. Students are taught to respect others' boundaries and assert their own right to say "no" in uncomfortable situations. They learn to recognise risky situations, communicate their boundaries clearly, and understand that all forms of sexual abuse are unacceptable. Students also learn about protective laws, how to seek help from trusted adults, and to support peers in distress. MOE Sexuality Education curriculum includes topics and messages on respecting boundaries in relationships, debunking gender stereotypes and fostering gender equality, as well as safeguarding students from gender-based violence.

Equip our children and youth to make informed and responsible decisions

MOE Sexuality Education emphasises the importance of respect for self and others, both online and offline, and respecting personal boundaries for healthy relationships and safety. Children and youth learn to respect others’ right to say "no" and assert their own right to say “no”, and the socio-emotional, and legal consequences of overstepping these boundaries. It equips children and youth with social-emotional skills for positive self-identities and healthy relationships, and for responsible decisions on sexuality matters.

MOE Sexuality Education in schools promotes abstinence before marriage. To safeguard our children and youth from the social-emotional and health risks of sexual activities at a young age, sexual experimentation is strongly discouraged. Instead, we teach the children and youth that they have a right to say "no" to any act they are uncomfortable with. They also learn facts about contraception, consequences of casual sex, prevention of diseases, and how the youth should say “no” to sexual advances.

Teach children and youth to exercise mutual respect and understanding

MOE Sexuality Education in schools emphasises the importance of having mutual understanding, respect and empathy, and appreciating one’s unique qualities, strengths and talents. Students learn what homosexuality is, consider what respect looks like for boys and girls, and that respect should be accorded to all, regardless of gender.

Provide information from a sexual health perspective

Apart from imparting knowledge, skills and values to build healthy relationships and make responsible decisions, MOE Sexuality Education teaches students facts about contraception, repercussions of casual sex and the prevention of STIs/HIV from a health perspective, through the Empowered Teens (eTeens) programme. The eTeens programme is developed by the Health Promotion Board* in collaboration with MOE.

*With the formation of the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) on 1 April 2025, the programme would now be managed by CDA’s Training and Education Division instead of HPB.

Key themes

The MOE Sexuality Education curriculum is organised around 5 themes:

1. Human development: The onset of puberty and its psychological and emotional impact.

2. Interpersonal relationships: The skills and values for healthy and rewarding relationships with friends and family, including the opposite sex.

3. Sexual health: Information and attitudes to promote sexual health and avoid unwanted consequences of sexual behaviour.

4. Sexual behaviour: Expressions of sexuality and their effects.

5. Culture, society and law: Societal, cultural and legal influences on sexual identity and sexual expressions.

MOE Sexuality Education: School Curriculum

What is the key focus in MOE’s Sexuality Education curriculum?

Children and youth in our schools are supported in their sexuality growth and development through the following subjects and programmes: