Standardise sex education, says former family development chief

 

Sex education should address the common issues faced by any child regardless of gender or status, says a former family development official.

PETALING JAYA: Sex education should be standardised for universal use while taking into account the sensitivities of target groups, said a former National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) director-general.

Aminah Abdul Rahman, now a trustee at the OrphanCare Foundation, said there was no need for specific modules to cater to differences in religion, ethnicity or geography.

“I don’t think there should be one set for rural and another set for urban, or for ethnicity or religion. That is a difficult thing to do and it shouldn’t be approached that way.

She added that previous modules on sex education, produced by the health and education ministries through LPPKN, were also standardised.”

Aminah’s comments come in the wake of women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri saying her ministry would hold meetings with relevant ministries on the implementation of sex education for children.

Nancy reportedly said they would rope in the education; health; national unity, youth and sports; and local government development ministries as well as the religious affairs minister.

Aminah stressed that sex education should address the common issues of any child regardless of gender or status.

“There are many challenges being faced by youths. And even among the LGBTQ+ group there may be some issues they need to know like their rights, what is and isn’t acceptable, or the dangers of making uninformed decisions.

“So, to me, the syllabus should address all needs,” she said.

Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said a “game changer” was required as far as sex education was concerned.

One was to provide contraceptives to persons who are unmarried, particularly those who are in a vulnerable position of sexual abuse, mentally disabled, or to avoid an incestuous relationship.

“Each country is unique, however, and it appears that countries which heavily invest in contraceptives seem to control the situation better and hence enjoy the success of reducing negative outcomes as a result,” Noor Azimah said. - FMT