2027 school curriculum to tackle teen pregnancy, says Fadhlina

 

Education minister Fadhlina Sidek said they are focussing on the educational agenda, particularly those closely related to reproductive health, to reduce teen pregnancies.

PETALING JAYA: 

The education ministry will incorporate the Reproductive and Social Health Education (PEERS) module into the 2027 school curriculum to address the rising number of teenage pregnancies in the country.

Minister Fadhlina Sidek said this decision had been approved by the women, family and community development ministry.

She said the ministry welcomes cross-ministry collaboration to tackle the issue of out-of-wedlock pregnancies.

“We are focussing on the educational agenda, particularly those closely related to reproductive health.

“From time to time, we conduct advocacy programmes related to reproductive health issues to address matters such as sexual harassment, girls’ health, safe touch and bad touch,” she said after officiating the closing ceremony of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) week at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang today.

Fadhlina added that the PEERS module would empower teachers and students with the necessary information on the issue.

The module will be incorporated into the curriculum under Health Education, starting from preschool to secondary school.

Students will be provided with information and skills, particularly psychosocial competencies, to make informed decisions in their daily lives.

Earlier, women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri expressed concern over issues surrounding teenage pregnancies, child marriages, baby dumping and unsafe abortions in the country.

Nancy said 44,263 cases of teenage pregnancies have been recorded over the past five years, with 17,646 cases involving unmarried teenagers. - FMT