SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SINGAPORE

Moe Sexuality Education in Schools

1. Sexuality Education (SEd) in schools is about enabling students to understand the physiological, social and emotional changes they experience as they mature, develop healthy and rewarding relationships including those with members of the opposite sex, and make wise, informed and responsible decisions on sexuality matters. It is premised on the importance of the heterosexual married couple forming a nuclear 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 Sexuality Education are to:

1. To help students make wise, responsible and informed decisions through the provision of accurate, current and age-appropriate knowledge on human sexuality and the consequences of sexual activity;
2. To help students know themselves and build healthy and rewarding relationships through the acquisition of social and emotional skills of self-awareness, management of their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, development of empathy for others, possession of effective communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills; and
3. To help students develop a moral compass, respect for themselves and for others as sexual beings, premised on the heterosexual married couple forming a nuclear family as the basic unit of society, through the inculcation of positive mainstream values and attitudes about sexuality.

3. The key messages of Sexuality Education are:

1. Love and respect yourself as you love and respect others;
2. Build positive relationships based on love and respect (which are the foundation for strong families);
3. Make responsible decisions for yourself, your family and society; and
4. Abstinence before marriage is the best protection against STIs/HIV and unwanted pregnancies. Casual sex can harm and hurt you and your loved ones.

You may click HERE for more information on MOE Sexuality Education.

Overview of School of Science and Technology, Singapore’s SEd Programme for 2012

4. Sexuality Education in schools is taught in both the formal curriculum and co-curricular programmes. These are covered under four main themes: Human Development, Interpersonal Relationships, Sexual Health and Behaviour, and, Societal Influences.

Formal Curriculum

5. The curricular subjects that incorporate topics on sexuality include:

• Science
• Civics and Moral Education

Co-Curricular Programmes

Growing Years (GY) Programme:

• “The Teenage Years” (Lower Sec) Package
• “Sense & Sexuality” (Upper Sec) Package

6. The values and attitudes of our youth towards sexuality are increasingly shaped by their peers, exposure to the media, popular culture and the internet. Adolescence is a complex stage in life as the adolescent attempts to find his/her own identity and often struggles with new social relationships. The period of middle adolescence (generally from 15 – 17 years old) can be a turbulent period for adolescents. The gap between physical and emotional/cognitive maturity may result in a tendency to act on impulse, experiment with various activities (including sexual activities), sometimes without understanding the unpleasant consequences that may arise from such experimentation. The need for peer acceptance can be overwhelmingly strong, and hinder one’s ability to act responsibly.  Given the pressures faced by the middle adolescent from within themselves and from peers, it is important to build a strong sense of self-worth, personal conviction and an understanding of the possible consequences of sexual behaviour.

7. Through “The Teenage Years” and “Sense & Sexuality” packages, secondary students will have the opportunity to develop a positive self-esteem, develop their character, expand their understanding and repertoire of skills to deal with various issues related to sexuality, which are of prime concern at this age.

At School of Science and Technology, Singapore, the following lessons from the Growing Years Programme will be taught in 2012:

Target Levels	Topics/Lessons	GY Learning Outcomes	Time Period
Sec 1	Healthy Relationships (within family, between friends and persons of opposite sex)	Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy relationships The underlying value for healthy relationships is respect	Term 3
Sec 1	Love – Crushes and love	Differentiate between love, crushes and infatuation.	Term 3
Sec 1	Going Steady – Correct Age	Recognise how one can cultivate healthy relationships with the opposite sex.	Term 3
Sec 1	Effects of Pornography	Recognise the negative effects of pornography.	Term 3
Sec 2	Going Steady – Peer Pressure	Recognising the effect of the influence of peers on one’s value system.	Term 3
Sec 2	Public Display of Affection	Understand that certain public displays of affection is not considered proper behaviour in our society	Term 3
Sec 2	Teenage Pregnancy – Choices	Examine the possible options in the decision-making process involving a teenage pregnancy. Understand that not every option is a private decision but has consequences on both parties and their families.	Term 3
Sec 2	Teenage Pregnancy –Consequences	Evaluate the consequences and issues relating to abortion and pre-marital sex	Term 3
Sec 3	Do I really know my friend?	Recognise that an individual is made of 5 dimensions: intellectual, emotional, physical and moral Recognise that getting to know friends in each of the 5 dimensions is essential for building close and healthy relationships.	Term 3
Sec 3	REACH for a rewarding relationship	Evaluate whether a relationship is healthy by recognising the essential elements for building a healthy and rewarding relationship and the harmful effects of continuing in an unhealthy relationship.	Term 3
Sec 3	Is sex really touch and go?Physical Intimacy Petting	Recognise the importance of setting personal boundaries. Recognise that choices made will affect one’s future.	Term 3
Sec 3	Must break up lead to break down?	Recognise that break-ups may happen in relationships and that one can break up without hurting others.	Term 3

eTeens Programme:

8.  eTeens is a programme developed by Health Promotion Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, for Secondary 3 students. The programme was introduced to secondary schools in 2007 as the Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) programme, to provide students with accurate information on STIs, HIV and protection from a health perspective. eTeens is conducted in two segments – a mass talk segment and a class-based programme.

9. Students are taught skills such as decision-making, assertiveness and negotiation to say no to sex and negative peer pressure. They also learn that the impact of STIs/HIV extends beyond themselves and involves their family. Abstinence and upholding family values are the key messages.

Information for Parents

10. Parents may opt their children out of Growing Years, Breaking Down Barriers and/or Sexuality Education programmes by external providers.

11. Parents who wish to opt their children out of the whole or part of the Growing Years (GY) programme need to complete an opt-out form. This form will be distributed to parents at the start of the year and is also downloadable HERE. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office by 21/05/2012.

12. Parents who wish to opt their children out of the entire eTeens programme need to complete an opt-out form. This form will be distributed to parents at the start of the year and is also downloadable HERE. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office by 21/05/2012.

13. Parents may wish to attend the school sexuality education programmes with their children. Parents should contact the school to make the necessary arrangements.

14. Parents can contact the school at 6571 7200 for discussion or to seek clarification about the school’s sexuality education programme.