sex education makes its way into the classroom by next year
By next year, our children are going to start having sex education in their classrooms. The subject is known as Pendidikan Kesihatan Reproduktif dan Sosial.
I know one of my colleague is working on a series of teacher's resource/guidebook in this subject. While at the pantry this morning, she and another colleague were giggling away and I was curious what they were talking about. She told me about the project and how she felt about the pictures and terms used in the books.
Back to her cubical, I approached her and asked permission to take a look at those manuscripts. You know what? I consider myself an open minded person and support sex education. Somehow when I saw those words such as 'penis' or 'punai' used in the text and supported by real photos, I was confused. These books are going to be used for preschool and primary level. It's not that I can't accept the way the manuscripts were written but how it's going to be accepted by the public.
I don't believe it's going to be well accepted by parents and politicians once this subject makes its way into the classroom. Somehow I believe there will be certain parties who will object this subject. There will also be teachers who refused to teach this subject just like some teachers who refused teaching the reproductive chapter in Science subject in the secondary level.
I wish I can show you some pictures from the books here but it's going to be unethical.
17 drop shot(s):
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i sort of wrote about the need for sex education today in my review of mcewan's "on chesil beach"
terminology is a problem as the novella points out. the usual words for body parts are too scientific often horribly latinate (so what are you going to call a penis or a punai? your thingamajig? does it really matter so long as names are given?)
but we've got to give our kids the names for body parts. i read a very sad story of dina zaman's "i am muslim" blog by a woman who was molested as a child by a relative but couldn't report the incident because she didn't have the vocabulary.
ignorance in sexual matters leads to disaster! (mcewan's novella makes that clear too) and i know as a lecturer that when our twinning programme kids get to the uk we get them into sex education classes within the first week. these undergrad kids are often astonishingly ignorant even about how pregnancy occurs ... and of course a hint or two about how to prevent pregnancy if you're going to go ahead with intercourse anyway. sometimes were too late.
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I remembered when I was in from three in an all boys school, the sex education teacher was a male and he had to close all the windows and door to teach about sex education to us. We all laughed..keke!
Until today , I can still remember my first sex education in that school.All of us already knew about sex. It was not a novelty .Just imagined ,in my time , there were no VCD's or smuts. These days , u have all kind of sex materials available and even very young kids have those knowledge. Those pics are so common.I dont think there will raise any eye brows except some politicians wanting some mileage out of this issue.
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laura in boy school ?
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Personally, I would think that sex education in Malaysian school is long overdue. Like Laura said nowadays smuts are easily available online or DVDs. Most kids get sex education from the net which is mainly pornography. SO it is best the school teach them the right stuffs before they find those bad stuffs from the net.
We can also learn from other countries education system how they teach sex education in school rather than starting from scratch.
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interesting... luckily during my time, no such close-window-lecture happen. Instead show up the real photo, i think show up the illustration to the primary kids is better, until the further sex education in secondary school, then only show real photo...?
*sorry for not visiting for a week, just move to new campus, no internet connection, and I still owe you a meme.
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Sharon: Thanks for the input. Hopefully the Minister would not give up the subject due to criticism once it's being implemented.
Laura: I don't think secondary school students will raised eyebrows but I'm not sure how's the reaction from parents of those students in primary level.
Most of us are from urban area and we are open minded about this issue but we never think of the folks in the rural area on their level of acceptance.
Then, we have a lot of teachers who are shy when teaching 'sensitive' topics like this. They rather asked students to do their own studying on that particular topic. That's what I heard from other teachers.
Freethinker: Perhaps you want to read more about Laura in Pinksuzie's blog.
Sam: I'm not sure about any Asian countries that have such subject in schools. There is sex education in western countries but I don't think their approach suits our local culture. UPSI need to continuously work on their research and evaluate the syllabus and work hand in hand with the Ministry of Education to fine tune the subject.
Vhanded: Wow, new campus, huh? Maybe can do some camwhoring at your new place. I agree with you illustration is more suitable to be used for primary level.
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Wow support by real pict? Isn't this too embarrassing? I think it's better if the pict is just a 'lakaran'.
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Hi hcfoo,
It is news to me that sex education will make its way into the primary schools. I dont think those parents from the rurals will make any noises..keke! They are a docile lot and whatever is taught in schools will not be questioned.
Anyway, I think what will be taught is just the basics and how a baby is born and the names of those parts.I should say that it would be harmless and not that after learning, they will go back and try it..keek!It is to make them aware of their sex differences and how to prevent pregnancies.
I think illustrations is much better than real pics.They are not so obvious and graphic.
Looking at naked pictures or the genitalia's is a shame to us in our soceity because if we were found out, it meant that we were 'hamsap' or sex crazy..keke!
The boys may get sexually exited looking at those pics.Some of them may do the DIY. Or they try on their little sisters. Teaching them at too young an age could lead to experimentations.
Introducing sex education at too young an age can do more harm than good.I am no expert. It looks like we are experimenting it on the kids .Hope this wont create more problems for the country.
I think most female teachers will be shy about it .Since most schools are majority female teachers and only a handful males or some schools just one or two male teachers, it will sure be a problem..keke!
Actually, is there so much to teach about sex throughout the year?
P/S Freethinker is just pulling my legs..
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I am not too sure about this sex education at the early age thing. I'm glad I do not know this earlier. Just being honest.
For me personally I will teach my boys about their body parts.. slowly. They have to know all this, of course, but I still believe as a parent, I do it myself. the explanation.
Now, if its a compulsory subject, the one we cannot object even if we want to, well, at least gave the parents copies of the book. Let us go through all the subject first. so we can, you know, 'warned' earlier our kids. now, this is only my opinion. I guess my boys will have to face the facts anyway one day for sure.
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Che-Cheh: Yalor. But see the textbook next year only know the details. Because the one we are working on are guidebook for teachers.
Laura: I agree female teachers will be very shy to talk about sex in class. I mean even a lot of parents don't talk about sex with their kids at home let alone teachers. Haha..i agree this is more like an experiment by UPSI and the ministry of education.
PapaJoneh: Thanks for your input a a father. I'm totally agree with you that parents should take a look at the textbook so that they know what their kids are studying in school.
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hcfoo? are u ok? no posting? :(
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Yalor. So long no posting. We miss your posts! :(
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Sam and PapaJoneh: Really sorry for the slow posting. Coping with a lot of things and especially concentrating on my thesis. But u guys keep writing because I read your blogs everyday!
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well, im here again. all the best on your thesis. it sounds so, so, hmmm Professor or Doctorate to me. Kesian me. Only Diploma level. ekkekee.
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Serious ah? Wow.. I didn't know that! I think secondary school is okay but starting from primary? Isn't that a bit too early?
It's not so much the technical stuff but I think talking about contraceptives and abortion are a better way!
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Princess: The subject starts from pre-school to secondary level. So basically they are going to learn everything that they should know.
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well even in my Degree they still prefer the illustration's pic. not the real one..
(i prefer they put the human anatomy pic like a Da Vincci's drawing @ Grey's Anatomy hehe)
Oh... except the book have to show us how's Herpes, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea look like at the penis.. LOL..
