Schools to have sex education

NST: Sex education may be introduced in schools as early as next year.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil will meet Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to push for the subject to be included in the syllabus.
"It is up to the Education Ministry when it will be introduced, but we hope it will be next year," she said.
Speaking to the Press after opening the third Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre today, she said the proposed syllabus was being finalised.
Conference patron Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, in her keynote address, also spoke on the issue of whether sex education should be taught in schools.
"We adults fear that when children are provided with information and knowledge on sex education, they will engage in sexual practices.
"But we also forget the positive effects that children will be more responsible and careful when given the timely information and guidance," she said.
She stressed that there was scientific evidence to prove the argument and there was a need for a collective voice to advocate good sex education and counselling.
Dr Siti Hasmah also touched at length on the abortion debate, which she said could not be ignored any longer.
She said the debate had raised diverse political and religious views which caused a divide among and within families and countries.
"The fact that we need to provide options and best choices for women is often not available to those in need," she said.
Many countries have legislation that outlaw abortions, she said.
Dr Siti Hasmah drew attention to unsafe abortions, saying that 40 per cent of abortions were unsafe while half of all abortions in the world occurred in Asia.
"Surely it makes sense to put appropriate legislation and policies in place and to provide for services and appropriate technology so that lives of these unfortunate women and girls can be saved," she said.