MOE's Sexuality Education in Schools

1.	Sexuality Education (SEd) in schools is about enabling students to understand the physiological, social and emotional changes they experience as they mature, develop healthy and rewarding relationships including those with members of the opposite sex, and make wise, informed and responsible decisions on sexuality matters. SEd is premised on the importance of the family as the basic unit of society. This means encouraging healthy, heterosexual marriages and stable nuclear family units with extended family support. The teaching and learning of SEd is based on respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities in Singapore on sexuality issues.
2.	The goals of Sexuality Education are:
(i)	To help students make wise, responsible and informed decisions through the provision of accurate, current and age-appropriate knowledge on human sexuality and the consequences of sexual activity;
(ii)	To help students know themselves and build healthy and rewarding relationships through the acquisition of social and emotional skills of self-awareness, management of their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, development of empathy for others, possession of effective communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills; and
(iii)	To help students develop a moral compass, respect for themselves and for others as sexual beings, premised on the family formed from a healthy, heterosexual marriage as the basic unit of society, through the inculcation of positive mainstream values and attitudes about sexuality.
3.	The key messages of Sexuality Education are:
(i)	Love and respect yourself as you love and respect others;
(ii)	Build positive relationships based on love and respect (which are the foundation for strong families);
(iii)	Make responsible decisions for yourself, your family and society; and
(iv)	Abstinence before marriage is the best protection against STIs/HIV and unintended pregnancies. Casual sex can harm and hurt you and your loved ones.

You may click here for more information on MOE Sexuality Education.

4.	Sexuality Education is delivered in a holistic manner through the school curriculum. The content for Sexuality Education is grouped into five main themes: Human Development, Interpersonal Relationships, Sexual Health, Sexual Behaviour, and, Culture, Society and Law.
5.	The subjects that incorporate topics on sexuality include:
	Science Health Education Civics and Moral Education / Character and Citizenship Education Growing Years (GY) Programme: “Curious Minds (2nd Edition)” (Primary 5 & 6) Teaching & Learning resource package
6.	The upper primary years mark the onset of puberty.  With better nutrition and improved health care, children are reaching puberty at a younger age and have to grapple with physical, emotional and psychological changes in themselves. The implication is that our children are becoming biologically ready for sexual activity sooner without necessarily having the corresponding cognitive or emotional maturity to modulate their behaviours. “Curious Minds” is a response to these challenges.
7.	The refreshed Primary 5 & 6 Growing Years (GY) package, “Curious Minds (2nd Edition)”, aims to meet students’ developmental needs, give emphasis to the teaching of skills and values, and focus on helping students navigate changes, build healthy relationships, especially online relationships, and exercise safety.

At Fuhua Primary School, the following lessons from the Growing Years Programme will be taught in 2013:

Unit	Lessons/Duration	Lesson Objectives At the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:	Time Period
Are We More Than Friends?	Who Are My Friends? (30 min)	identify the qualities of a healthy friendship r ecognise the importance of making wise choices in friendship	Term 2
	Am I A Good Friend? (30 min)	identify the qualities that they have as a friend recognise the importance of developing in oneself the qualities of a good friend	Term 2
	What is Love? (30 min)	identify the characteristics of love and infatuation distinguish between the characteristics of love versus infatuation	Term 2
	Am I Falling In Love? (30 min)	identify strong feelings arising from infatuation manage strong feelings arising from infatuation identify ways to manage and cope with teasing from peers	Term 2
	Main Task (30 min)	Description of the Main Task: Pupils are to play the role of a game designer who wants to create a board game to help pupils of their age learn more about the Big Idea of Relationships, specifically on family, friendships, love and infatuation. They will consider the issues that their peers would face and craft questions and answers that they believe their peers would benefit most from knowing.	Term 2
Friends or Foes?	Are You Really My Friend? (30 min)	identify the pros and cons of forming relationships through social networking websites know ways to keep themselves safe when using social networking websites	Term 2
	Is It All Safe? (30 min)	know that some information (like pornography) received through the Internet may be harmful know ways to keep themselves safe when using the Internet	Term 2
	Main Task (30 min)	Description of the Main Task: Pupils are to apply their understanding of Safety in a variety of scenarios where the main character could be in a precarious situation. They will consider the situation from the point of view of the main character, discuss what they think and feel about the situation and what they will do or say to ensure their safety. These scenarios will provide pupils with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of Safety and that safety is a right and a responsibility.	Term 2

8.	Parents may opt their children out of the Growing Years programme, and/or sexuality education programmes by external providers.
9.	Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Growing Years programme need to complete an opt-out form. This form will be distributed to parents before the start of the programme. A sample of the opt-out form is also downloadable here.
10.	Parents may wish to attend the school sexuality education programmes with their children. Parents should contact the school to make the necessary arrangements.
11.	Parents can contact the school at 6562 4370 to seek clarification about the school’s sexuality education programme.