“The suggestion is that in this programme, young girls from 12 to 18 are taught that it’s okay to experiment with each other. And this is something which concern parents in Singapore. Are we going to have an entire generation of lesbians?”
- Dr. Thio Su Mien on Aware's Programme
One of the main reasons cited by the new Aware exco for taking over Aware was that the sex education programme conducted by Aware promoted homosexuality. MOE has come out to explain what the programme is about, how the schools are involved in them and what was actually taught.
The new exco has taken over Aware on a false premise. That is doing a lot to hurt their own credibility. Are they going to accuse MOE of promoting homosexuality because they allowed these programmes? Are the teachers and principals involved in promoting homosexuality? Someone asked if they are getting ready to takeover the PAP for allowing "Brokeback Mountain" to be shown in the cinemas surely that movie promotes homosexuality more than the Aware programmes.
Reply to Recent Comments and Claims [Link]
About AWARE’s Sexuality Education Programme in Schools
We refer to recent claims and comments about AWARE’s sexuality education programme in schools.
Sexuality education conducted in MOE schools is premised on the importance of the family and respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities on sexuality issues. The aim is to help students make responsible values-based choices on matters involving sexuality.
Core programmes are delivered by teachers but schools do collaborate with other agencies in delivering additional modules. However, in doing so, schools must ensure that any programmes run by external agencies are secular and sensitive to the multi-religious make-up of our society. Parents can choose to opt their children out of these programmes. Last year, 11 secondary schools engaged AWARE to run workshops for their students. The number of students involved in each school ranged from about 20 to 100, and each workshop lasted 3 hours. The objectives of these workshops were to provide students with accurate information on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)/HIV, to help students understand the consequences of premarital sexual activity, and to equip students with skills such as decision-making and resisting negative peer pressure.
AWARE also conducted assembly talks, typically of 45-minute duration, for students in a few secondary schools. Some of the areas covered in the talks included body image, self-esteem, eating disorders, teenage pregnancies, sexual harassment and the role of women in today’s context.
The schools that engaged AWARE found that the content and messages of the sessions conducted were appropriate for their students and adhered to guidelines to respect the values of different religious groups. The schools did not receive any negative feedback from students or parents who attended the workshops and talks.
In particular, MOE has also not received any complaint from parents or Dr Thio Su Mien, who was reported to have made specific claims about sexuality education in our schools. MOE has contacted Dr Thio Su Mien to seek clarifications and facts to substantiate her claims.
If parents and members of the public know of specific instances where guidelines have not been adhered to, they should report them directly to MOE to investigate. MOE recognises that sexuality education is sensitive. In conducting these programmes, the views of parents will be respected and values taught should not deviate from the social norms accepted by mainstream society in Singapore.