The Malaysian Insight

TEACHERS have been urged not to skip sex education or replace it with other subjects.

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said sex education in schools needs the support of both teachers and parents, and should not be seen as taboo.

“It is important for schools to teach (students) what is right and proper. We need the understanding and support of parents.

“We have to do away with the idea that sex education teaches kids how to have sex. That’s completely wrong,” she told reporters at SJK (T) Subramaniye Barathee in Gelugor, Penang, today.

She said the sex education syllabus is being reviewed to ensure it is up to date, taking into account that children these days are exposed to all sorts of information and materials online.

“We have to teach kids from a young age what are safe touches, and what are unsafe or inappropriate touches. This is in the syllabus.

“If it happens to children who don’t know how to differentiate between what is proper and improper, it is already too late.

“Teachers, please treat sex education as an important part of the overall syllabus. Please don’t replace it with English or Math classes.”

Currently, sex education is taught as part of the Physical and Health Education subject.

Teo said children as young as preschoolers are taught how to say “no” if they are touched inappropriately.

Older kids, like secondary school students, are taught in more detail, she said.

“We also encourage teachers to split boys and girls into different groups or classes to allow them to discuss the topic more freely.” – February 22, 2019.