| By Theresa Tan & Amelia Tan | ||
 |  | The Aware programme for schools was one of the touchstones of a spat within the organisation, which ended last Saturday with the ousting of a month-old leadership team who had railed against what they called 'pro-homosexuality' content in it. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER |
In addition, the ministry will implement a new, tougher vetting process for the selection of such external programmes by schools.
The move comes about a week after some parents told MOE that they were concerned about the content found in an instructor guide for Aware's programme, which was posted online.
The Aware programme for schools was one of the touchstones of a spat within the organisation, which ended last Saturday with the ousting of a month-old leadership team who had railed against what they called 'pro-homosexuality' content in it. MOE conducted an investigation after some parents expressed concern.
On Wednesday, the press secretary to Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, Ms Jennifer Chan, said in a letter to The Straits Times that the basic instructor guide for Aware's programme did not conform to MOE's guidelines on sexuality education.
'In particular, some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of premarital sex,' she said, without elaborating on the inappropriate responses.
A copy of the guide posted online contained lines such as 'anal sex can be healthy or neutral if practised with consent and with a condom', and 'homosexuality is perfectly normal. Just like heterosexuality, it is simply the way you are'.
However, Ms Chan pointed out that some parts of the guide were positive: It gave accurate information on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, for example.
But, she stressed, the ministry and its schools 'do not promote alternative lifestyles to our students'.
She added: 'MOE's framework for sexuality education reflects mainstream views and values of Singapore society, where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit.
Among the issues raised was one contained in an e-mail which has made the rounds recently.
It said that during a discussion of same-sex marriages, students at a junior college were given a worksheet with questions asking for their views of a nuclear family unit. They were also asked to discuss topics such as the legalisation of gay marriage and parents of the same sex forming families through adoption.
A documentary on the lifestyles of such families was also shown in class, the e-mail said. It questioned if it was appropriate to discuss such topics, and charged that this promoted homosexuality. It is not known who wrote the e-mail.
In its response yesterday, MOE said: 'GP lessons are meant to promote critical thinking and discussion on contemporary issues.
'These materials and lessons did not involve Aware...MOE investigations showed that the teachers had used these materials to initiate discussion on family structures, and not to promote alternative lifestyles.
'Nevertheless, MOE will remind school leaders and teachers to exercise greater professional discretion in guiding their students when such topics are discussed. They should also adhere to social norms and values of our mainstream society.'
Junior colleges have to adhere to broad guidelines set by the ministry for GP lessons, including on the topics covered. However, teachers are free to choose the type of content they want to introduce and to decide how they teach the lessons.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28486.12
No comments:
Post a Comment