'No' to Sex Education

2010/04/28

Reports by Anis Ibrahim

SEX Education is not needed in Malaysian schools and will not be introduced, the Dewan Negara was told yesterday.

Deputy Education Minister Dr Puad Zarkashi said elements of sex education were already being taught in schools in a subject called Social and Reproductive Health Studies.

The subject was introduced in secondary schools in 1989 and in primary schools in 1994.

"Social and reproductive health studies is taught under Health Education and encompasses curricula of a wide variety of subjects such as Biology, Science, Additional Science, Moral Studies and Religious Education," he said.

"There is no need for a specific subject called Sex Education."

Several ministries and organisations had supported the idea of teaching sex education on its own, but this decision appears to have closed the door on the matter.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, for instance, recently held a seminar for students on social and reproductive health in anticipation of Sex Education being introduced as a subject in schools.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had expressed concern on the matter in light of a recent spate of abandoned babies.

The National Union of the Teaching Profession had also supported the proposal for sex education in schools, although its secretary-general, Lok Yim Pheng, voiced some reservations.

She said teachers were not confident in teaching sex education as they did not have the training to handle the complexity and sensitivity of the subject.

In his reply to Senators Doris Sophia Brodi, Datuk Daljit Singh Dalliwal, Datuk Zainun Mat and Dr M. Malasingam, Puad said social and reproductive health studies teachers had attended courses held by experienced trainers.

"These courses are designed to expose the teachers to the proper approach which should be adopted in teaching the subject.

"Our present syllabus also includes modules on the importance of making the right decisions where sex is concerned," he said.

Replying to Brodi's supplementary question, he said parents should also play their role in discussing sex with their children and advise them accordingly.