Moe’s Sexuality Education in Schools

1. Sexuality education is an important programme in our schools. It aims to help our young understand the physiological, social and emotional changes they experience as they mature, develop healthy relationships with the opposite sex and to teach them how to make responsible choices. It is premised on the importance of the heterosexual married family as the basic unit of society, and respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities on sexuality issues.

 

2. The goals of SEd are to:

 

(i) provide accurate and adequate knowledge on human sexuality and the consequences of sexual activity so that pupils are able to make informed decisions;

(ii) impart intra- and inter-personal skills of problem-solving, decision-making and effective communication so that pupils are able to build responsible and rewarding relationships; and

(iii) inculcate positive values and attitudes of sexuality so that pupils develop a sense of respect for themselves and others as sexual beings, in line with the national value of the family as the basic unit of society.

 

3. The key messages of SEd are:

 

(i) Build healthy futures for yourself, family and society.

(ii) Healthy relationships based on love and respect are the foundation for strong families.

(iii) Casual sex can lead to unwanted pregnancies, STIs/HIV and AIDS which can harm and hurt your loved ones.

 

You may click here for more information on MOE’s Sexuality Education.

 

Overview of Nanyang Junior College’s Sexuality Education Programme for 2009

 

4. Formal Curriculum

 

At Nanyang Junior College (NYJC), building character in our students is our core business. The many threads of our college’s initiatives are woven and integrated into a unique and holistic character development programme under the Managing Self, Leading Others (MSLO) framework.

 

This framework aims to develop in students the affective, social and moral domains as well as the various social-emotional learning competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management and responsible decision-making.

 

The various programmes - civics and moral education, national education, pastoral care, career guidance, service learning, lifeskills, leadership development and sexuality education - are conducted formally during the weekly civics period and the fortnightly assembly period.

 

The sexuality education programme in our college has traditionally been conducted via the various forms:

 

(i) as part of civics tutorial discussions with their respective civics tutors. Topics of discussion are selected from the Growing Year Series – a resource package developed by MOE. Teachers are guided by a proper lesson plan as well as the specific objectives as advised in the resource package.

(ii) through plays and dramatization. This initiative is part of our college’s Arts Appreciation Programme whereby performing groups approved by the National Arts Council are engaged to help spread the important message of responsible dating and sexual abstinence till after marriage. 

 

For this year, the college has engaged the services of a drama group approved by the National Arts Council to help spread the message of responsible dating and responsible decision-making. The first session was conducted for the JC2s on 15 April 2009 and the second session for the JC1s on 26 August 2009.

 

5. INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

 

a. Parents can opt their children out of the entire sexuality education programme or for individual topics, talks or workshops.

 

b. Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Growing Years Series need to complete an opt-out form. This form will be distributed to parents at the start of the year and is also downloadable from the school’s website (opt-out form - English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil). A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office by 31/01/2010.

 

c. Parents can attend the sexuality education programmes by external providers with their children if they wish to. Parents should contact the school to make the necessary arrangements.

 

d. Parents can contact the college for discussion or seek clarification about the school’s sexuality education programme.