Why sex education is needed

May 21, 2009

Changes to sex education programme

Why sex education is needed

By Amelia Tan
		The number of teenage pregnancies in Singapore has held steady, averaging about 8.4 per 1,000. --PHOTO: FARHAN SYSTEM

THE rising number of teens infected with sexually transmitted diseases and HIV is the main push behind the Ministry of Education's (MOE) sexuality education programme in schools.

Education Minister Ng Eng Hen on Thursday released data on teens' sexual habits to underscore the need for it and how it has changed, for example, the MOE recently included the use of contraception in the curriculum.

RELATED LINKS FAQ on schools sex education programmes Excerpts of Education Minister Ng Eng Hen's remarks at press conference on sexuality education on May 21

He said the number of teenage pregnancies in Singapore has held steady, averaging about 8.4 per 1,000. This is not as high as in Australia and England where the teenage pregnancy rate is 16.3 per 1000 for 2004 and 41.7 per 1,000 for 2007 respectively.

What is worrying is that the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have jumped 2.5 times from 238 cases in 2002 to 787 in 2008. The number of HIV cases has also gone up from one case in 2002 to nine in 2007.

A survey conducted by the Health Promotion Board and MOE in 2006 showed 8 per cent of 4,000 students aged between 14 and 19 years admitted that they were having sex. And fewer than a quarter of these sexually active youths used any protection.

Dr Ng said in response to these trends, the ministry decided in 2007 that students should know about the repercussions of unwanted pregnancies and STIs.

He added: When we started, the key message was abstinence, reflecting the conservative social tone of our Asian society where liberal values on sex are not espoused. This is not a negative facet of our society. It is not prudish, regressive or naive.'

'But it was clear that abstinence as the only focus was not an effective strategy in reducing the number of teenage pregnancies and STIs.

' In 2007, messages were added - beyond knowing how to say no, students were also taught the repercussions of unwanted pregnancies and STIs and HIV and how to prevent them. This is now a key focus of sexuality education, and should continue to be moving forward.'

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