I refer to last Sunday's article by Ms Sumiko Tan, 'Let's talk about sex'. I share her view that schools should fill the role of teaching one important phase of growing up - sexuality - that most parents are ill-equipped to teach.
While I understand the Ministry of Education's stand that the main responsibility for sex education lies with parents - not schools - and its view of the subject as complementary, I do not agree with such an approach.
MOE should be more proactive in providing in-depth, formalised sex education in view of Singapore's wide exposure to undesirable influences through media such as the Internet.
Most parents feel awkward talking about sexual matters with their teenage children. So it is more appropriate for schools to teach human biology, including sexual development of a child from adolescence to adulthood, in stages from the late primary to secondary levels.
MOE should seriously consider introducing structured textbook materials on human biology, leading to normal sexuality education in schools, in conformity with social norms and family core values.
The key is to open a conduit for constructive and fruitful dialogue to address such a sensitive subject.
Having sex education as a school subject would create the opportunity for parents to start a conversation with their children on the topic.
Parents can be encouraged to provide feedback to improve the curriculum and content, while also imparting the right values.
A country's social norms can change if its moral fabric erodes under the strong influence of so- called alternative-lifestyle values.
To prevent this from happening, we must strengthen our core values and work harder to inculcate what is right in sex education classes.
Paul Chan
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