Sexuality education is about family values as much as spiritual belief

Sexuality education is about family values as much as spiritual belief

I REFER to Wednesday's Forum letter, "MOE: No complaints from parents, Dr Thio".

As a parent, I welcome the clarification from the Ministry of Education (MOE) concerning sexuality education in schools. I feel assured knowing that the "values taught should not deviate from the social norms accepted by mainstream society in Singapore".

Perhaps to help parents better understand and put them at ease, external agencies engaged by schools to teach sexuality should provide the full course content to parents for their information. This way, parents know what their children are learning and can see whether it is in line with their own values and beliefs.

If information is lacking, parents have no way of knowing, much less make a complaint. But with knowledge and understanding, parents will be able to make informed choices as to whether their children should opt out of such programmes or not.

Indeed, MOE is right to say that sexuality education is sensitive. This is because it has to do with not just one's religious beliefs but also one's family values.

Thus, for some parents, even "less than five minutes spent on the statements on homosexuality", as highlighted in the letter "What the school programme teaches students" on Wednesday, can be too much. Such is the sensitivity involved that external agencies engaged to provide sexuality education should be mindful of.

Grace Chua (Mdm)

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.303