The Aware programme for schools was one of the touchstones of a spat within the organisation, which ended last Saturday with the ousting of a month-old leadership team who had railed against what they called 'pro-homosexuality' content in it. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
ALL sexuality education programmes run by external groups in schools - including the controversial one by the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) - have been suspended by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
In addition, the ministry will implement a new, tougher vetting process for the selection of such external programmes by schools.
Why MOE suspended Aware project: Forum
IN RECENT weeks, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has received feedback on the sexuality education programme conducted by the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), as well as other lesson material not involving Aware. MOE has done a thorough investigation and the following are its findings and future steps.
MOE and the schools do not promote alternative lifestyles to students. The ministry's framework for sexuality education reflects the mainstream views and values of Singapore society, where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit.
IN ITS letter to The Straits Times on Wednesday, the Ministry of Education (MOE) revealed that it had received 'feedback' about materials on alternative lifestyles used in junior college General Paper lessons.
Among the issues raised was one contained in an e-mail which has made the rounds recently.
The move comes about a week after some parents told MOE that they were concerned about the content found in an instructor guide for Aware's programme, which was posted online.
The Aware programme for schools was one of the touchstones of a spat within the organisation, which ended last Saturday with the ousting of a month-old leadership team who had railed against what they called 'pro-homosexuality' content in it. MOE conducted an investigation after some parents expressed concern.
On Wednesday, the press secretary to Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, Ms Jennifer Chan, said in a letter to The Straits Times that the basic instructor guide for Aware's programme did not conform to MOE's guidelines on sexuality education.
'In particular, some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of premarital sex,' she said, without elaborating on the inappropriate responses.
A copy of the guide posted online contained lines such as 'anal sex can be healthy or neutral if practised with consent and with a condom', and 'homosexuality is perfectly normal. Just like heterosexuality, it is simply the way you are'.
However, Ms Chan pointed out that some parts of the guide were positive: It gave accurate information on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, for example.
But, she stressed, the ministry and its schools 'do not promote alternative lifestyles to our students'.
She added: 'MOE's framework for sexuality education reflects mainstream views and values of Singapore society, where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit.
Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
