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EDUN N25-02-004 V61

04600

13 Oct 2000

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION LAUNCHES A FRAMEWORK
FOR SEXUALITY EDUCATION AND THE 'GROWING YEARS' SERIES

     The Ministry of Education has launched a sexuality education resource package entitled The 'Growing Years' Series . The multi-media package aims to enhance the teaching of sexuality education within the new Framework for Sexuality Education, which sets out the guiding principles for sexuality education in Singapore.

2. As the nature of sexuality education is values-based, Government-Aided schools may exercise the option of whether to use the package, as they may have alternative programmes in place. For children whose schools have chosen to use the package, their parents still have the choice to opt them out of the programme.

Framework for Sexuality Education

3. Sexuality is an issue for which different families and communities hold different views. However, there are key areas and core values that we want to hold as a society, like the concept that the family is the basic unit of society. These are set out in the Framework for Sexuality Education. The framework also emphasizes the importance of delivering sexuality education in an age-appropriate manner based on four broad themes. The contents on the four themes are pitched appropriately at pupils' maturity level, and are revisited at different levels of education. (Please refer to   Annex  for the guiding principles and the four themes).

The 'Growing Years' Series

4. The series is a multi-media package that comprises a VCD, CD-ROM and Teacher's Resource File. The VCD presents short dramas centred on key issues and concerns of our pupils regarding sexuality and responsibility. The CD-ROM expands on these issues by directing the viewers to think through the wider implications and consequences based on some facts and information. The Teacher's Resource helps teachers facilitate discussions following the viewing of the VCD.

5. The 'Growing Years' Series is an enhancement to what is already being done by schools in the area of sexuality education. Currently, related topics are taught in subjects such as Health Education, Civics and Moral Education and Science. Talks and seminars are also conducted for pupils by resource speakers from organisations such as the Ministry of Health and the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association. The series enhances the above activities by aiming to:

1. foster an understanding of human sexuality and healthy sexual relationships;
2. inculcate appropriate moral values essential in preserving the dignity of sexual relationships;
3. inculcate appropriate social and health values.

6. A developmental approach is adopted in the production of The 'Growing Years' Series, to target the unique concerns and needs of the pupils at the four critical growth stages. They are upper primary (11-12 years), lower secondary (13-14 years), upper secondary (15-16 years) and post-secondary (17-18 years) stages. The lower secondary series will be launched on 16 Oct 2000. The upper primary series and the upper secondary series will be developed in 2001 and the post-secondary series in 2002.

7. In the production of the series, MOE has taken into consideration feedback and views from principals, teachers, parents, medical professionals, psychologists, social workers and self-help groups through focus group discussions and feedback sessions.

Collaboration between schools, parents and community.

8. Effective collaboration between schools, parents and the community is essential to bring about effective teaching of sexuality education for our children.

9. Schools will also make their own plans for the teaching of the package, and pupils will be allowed to borrow the VCD and CD-ROM for further study in their own time. The VCD and CD-ROM will also be made available for sale to parents and the public after they have been released to schools.

10. Training will be provided for a select team of teachers and key personnel who have been identified by the school to conduct the programme. Parents who have volunteered to help schools in conducting the programme will also be trained. This training will be provided by a team of psychologists and medical professionals, as well as guidance specialists

from MOE.

  Guiding Principles for the Framework for Sexuality Education

The guiding principles for the design and delivery of sexuality education set out in the Framework are:

	Parents must take responsibility for the sexuality education of their children. Students will be advised to refer to their parents on issues that impact on their individual religious and cultural beliefs.
	Sexuality education will be premised on the importance of the family as the basic unit of society.
	The teaching of facts will be integrated with the teaching of values.

The Four Broad Themes

The four broad themes that are covered in the Framework are:

	Human development
	Interpersonal relationships
	Sexual health and behaviour
	Society and culture