Sexuality Education Not Done In Haste

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- The sexuality education to be implemented early next year was not a hasty move but was mulled over for two years, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Friday.
The project, to be implemented in collaboration with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, would be carried out with great care in schools and pre-schools, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Main Committee on Discipline here.
Allaying the fears of some parties, he said: "I would like to assure them that we have mulled over the guidelines (on sexuality education) for two years. We are extremely careful and sensitive in putting it across," he said.
Hishammuddin announced last Tuesday that education on sexuality would be implemented at the school and pre-school level early next year to help students protect themselves from sex crimes and to boost their morale.
The module planning had been completed and the National Guidelines On Sexuality Education would be submitted to the Cabinet in the first week of January.
It would involve five age groups -- four to six years (preschool), seven to nine (children), 10 to 12 (early adolescence), 13 to 18 (adolescents) and 19 years and above (adults such as university students, parents and senior citizens).
Hishammuddin said the sexuality education would not follow the open western concept but would be discreet.
It would be included in current subjects and not taught as a special subject, he said, adding that only expert teachers would be involved.
On fears that the subject might not be suitable for preschoolers, he said the scope for them would different from that for adolescents.