1) Uphold the acceptable societal norms.
Family as a core unit. Marriage as a basis for forming a family unit.
2) Refer to family values of individuals
Encourage students to find out and fall back on the values that their family wants them to have.
3) Educate on the consequences of alternative lifestyles.
At appropriate ages, present factually the existence of alternative lifestyles and their medical/emotional/social consequences.
4) Respect and allow students to draw their own conclusions and make their own choices/decisions.
In my own opinion, too much is made of the pro-conservative group fronted by the ousted AWARE president, trying to push their "hidden" agenda. If we read between the lines in the following article, the pro-liberals are also pushing for their own aims.
As a gatekeeper for my students, my role as an educator is to allow my charges to make informed and sound choices based on values that their loved ones (family) ascribe to.
MOE suspends sexuality education programmes by external vendors
By Pearl Forss & Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 May 2009 1835 hrs
The move came after it investigated feedback received on the school sexuality education programme conducted by women's advocacy group AWARE, and other lesson materials not by AWARE.
For the past few years, schools have been allowed to engage external vendors to supplement their sexuality education programmes.
The ministry said it has reviewed schools' internal processes for selecting and monitoring vendors, and found that it can be improved.
It said it will put in place more stringent processes to ensure that training materials and programmes delivered in schools are in line with MOE's framework on sexuality education.
MOE said its framework reflects the mainstream values of
On AWARE's sexuality education programme, the ministry found some aspects of it positive, while other parts did not conform to guidelines.
It cited as positive - examples such as role-play practice for students to say "no" to sex. However, it found other instances - such as some suggested responses in the instructor guide - explicit and inappropriate, as they conveyed messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of pre-marital sex.
In response, AWARE said it was "disappointed", as instructors were trained to use language appropriate to their audience. It had also offered on Tuesday to meet with ministry officials, but have yet to receive a response.
"I hope it doesn't mean they are going to discontinue using such comprehensive programmes as ours. And I hope it doesn't mean they are going to bring sexual education back a couple of centuries," said Dana Lam, AWARE's president.
The ministry is also reviewing ways to provide parents with more information about sexuality education taught in schools.
It added, however, that parents are ultimately responsible for inculcating values to their children, and that MOE's sexuality education programme aims to complement parents' role in helping students make informed, responsible and values-based decisions regarding sexuality.
Separately, the MOE also said it has investigated feedback on materials used in junior colleges' General Paper (GP) lessons which carry information on alternative lifestyles, not provided by AWARE.
The ministry said GP lessons are meant to promote critical thinking and discussion on contemporary issues. It added that the teachers had used these materials to initiate discussion on family structures and not to promote alternative lifestyles.
It will, however, remind school leaders and teachers to exercise greater professional discretion in guiding their students when such topics are discussed, and that they should adhere to social norms and values of mainstream society. - CNA
