Remarks by Education Minister on Sexuality Education Programme in Schools

Silent Majority
04 Jul 09 , 03:10 AM

My reply to MOE’s email dated 03.07.09:

Dear Mr Yong

Thank you for your 3rd July, 2009 reply to my email.

I am heartened to hear of MOE's stand and I have seen the latest news that came out of MOE only recently.

These are my comments:

1) On the need of advising how a student should protect oneself in the event of heightened libido, I agree that it should be taught but, I hope that MOE will consider emphasizing the prevention aspect frequently and regularly in such a way as to drum it in the head of our young.

2) It is not without thought that I say this because, if we were to leave it to one chapter and that's it, it's as good as "preaching" to the wall.

3) I would like to state again as in my previous email that these days students tend to spend more time in school and they are not like students of yesteryear. Now, they are so exposed to a wide spectrum of the media daily and also do much school work on the computer such that it is hardly surprising that most parents are unable to influence them as before.

4) Schools being centres of learning, should be the primary source of moral learning and should be part of the yearly general curriculum from day one of school life of a child and there should be weightage applied for the course. Otherwise, the course subject will be considered redundant and a waste of time in the long run by the students. This is important in terms of nation building and maintenance of moral standards.

5) As the recent AWARE saga has shown us all, attempts were made to covertly disseminate and inculcate acceptance of a moral concept not compatible with the mainstream to our young through our educational system. From this incident, MOE should realize the effectiveness of regular moral & civic education. It is regrettable that we parents are now considered supplemental to the teachers in this respect.

6) Schools should be adequately funded so as to ensure this program achieves the required results at the end of a child's school going years.

7) It is hoped that sex education and other programs are properly scrutinized prior to offering to the students.

8) It is also hoped that school teachers and instructors of sex education and other programs are regularly scrutinized thoroughly and also in the way they teach the subjects. This is no nonsensical talk on my part but reflecting a known danger inherent as the 'educators' themselves may be the "wolfe in sheep's clothing" themselves.

9) As parents, seeing so many young ones displaying LBGT tendencies so openly in our schools is quite alarming and your comment and poxition on this aspect is NOT really assuring but rather quite disquieting to us. Therefore, I hope MOE will look further into this matter and provide more comprehensive support to the school counselors in lessening these tendencies and preferences.

10) Finally, I wish that MOE will prevent future "infiltration" of deviant views inconsistent with the mainstream by exhorting Principals and teachers to be vigilant when dispensing their lessons or advice to our young.

Thank you.