Not until Aware regains trust: Education Minister

Trust is an “important issue” — which is why the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) will not be allowed, for now, to teach its comprehensive sexuality programme in schools, said Education Minister Ng Eng Hen.

“For the programmes to be delivered effectively, parents and the Ministry of Education (MOE) must be able to trust that external agencies teach according to the framework and values of MOE’s sexuality education,” he said.

“We will not be able to use Aware until they have gained the public’s trust for their sexuality programmes.”

Moreover, if external agencies disagree with MOE’s approach, it would be “better not to participate in MOE’s programmes”; they should bring their views to the steering committee who would assess their arguments, said Dr Ng.

In response, Aware president Dana Lam said last night that the MOE’s move was “regrettable”, but “we recognise that the ministry has been under considerable pressure from some parents on the matter and we can understand why it has taken this action”.

In the two years the programme was run in schools, she noted, there was no negative feedback. The MOE had also earlier acknowledged that Aware’s programme “was accurate on information provided on STIs/HIV, and good in the segment which teaches students to say no to sex”, Ms Lam told Today.

Aware will continue its review of the programme, in consultation with parents, teachers and counsellors, and “at the appropriate time, we may offer it again to the Education Ministry”.

For now, Aware will focus on its other activities — namely research and advocacy, services such as its helpline and legal clinic, and public education such as reviving its forums at public libraries. ALICIA WONG

From TODAYOnline.com, News – Friday, 22-May-2009; see the source article here.

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