Sex education for young needs a revamp

PREVENTING sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among the young has been around for years as a topic, but young Singaporeans between the ages of 18 and 29 are still the least informed.

Recent reports pointed out that many people in this age-group have been diagnosed with STDs and the response generated has been to promote abstinence.

How about giving more information to teenagers rather than trying to only enforce abstinence? Sex education from parents and teachers is in dire need of a revamp.

Most students today are latch-key children, while those who are not, tend to spend their time outside the home more than before.

This leaves the teachers with quite a large amount of time with secondary school youngsters who are experiencing puberty.

With the mass media as accessible and informative as it is now, it is the parents' and teachers' jobs to reach out to the teenagers to provide sufficient information about sex. Simply promoting abstinence is unrealistic.

Information on sex should cover the scientific knowledge of male and female reproductive organs. When I was in secondary school, I recall a teacher who told us to read about them in the textbook as he was too shy to teach it.

Imparting the maintenance of good hygiene for both sexes and explaining how the various contraceptives work are also important.

In many countries, teachers demonstrate the correct use of a condom, while male and female students are given condoms to learn in class how exactly to use it.

This open-door policy of sex education will allow everyone to be comfortable with asking questions when they need help and develop healthy ideas about sex, rather than regard it as something that is shameful or illicit.

Parents should do their part at home as well, explaining the subject to their children when they are young and keeping the channel of communication open.

It is irresponsible of teachers, parents or society to simply promote abstinence, yet turn on one another or the young adults when they are found to be least informed on sex and suffer from STDs.

If no one will educate the young, then who will?