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Information on Sexuality Education Programme
BEDOK SOUTH SECONDARY SCH
Moe’s Sexuality Education in Schools
1. Sexuality education (SEd) aims to help our young understand the physiological, social and emotional changes they experience as they mature, develop healthy relationships with the opposite sex and to teach them how to make responsible choices. It is premised on the importance of the heterosexual married family as the basic unit of society, and respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities on sexuality issues.
2. The goals of SEd are to:
i. provide accurate and adequate knowledge on human sexuality and the consequences of sexual activity so that pupils are able to make informed decisions;
ii. impart intra- and inter-personal skills of problem-solving, decision-making and effective communication so that pupils are able to build responsible and rewarding relationships; and
iii. inculcate positive values and attitudes of sexuality so that pupils develop a respect for themselves and others as sexual beings, in line with the national value of the family as the basic unit of society.
3. The key messages of SEd are:
i. Build healthy futures for yourself, family and society.
ii. Healthy relationships based on love and respect are the foundation for strong families.
iii. Casual sex can lead to unwanted pregnancies, STIs/HIV and AIDS which can harm and hurt your loved ones.
You may click here for more information on MOE’s Sexuality Education.
Overview of BEDOK SOUTH SECONDARY SCHOOL’S SEd Programme for 2009
4. Sexuality education in schools is taught in both the formal curriculum and co-curricular programmes. These are covered under four main themes: Human Development, Interpersonal Relationships, Sexual Health and Behaviour, and, Societal Influences.
Formal Curriculum
Bedok South Secondary engages the Health Promotion Board to run its “Breaking Down Barriers” programme as part of the Sexuality Education programme of the school. Upon completion of an hour long talk at the school, teachers will conduct classes based on the “Breaking Down Barriers” guidelines and lesson plans. This programme takes place at the Secondary 3 level and requires an Opt Out form for parents to fill should they want their child to opt out of this programme. The Opt Out form will be given to students prior to the start of the talk. It can also be downloaded here.
5. The curricular subjects in which topics on sexuality are incorporated include
i. Science
ii. Civics and Moral Education
For more information on the above subjects, you may wish to click here .
Co-Curricular Programmes
Growing Years (GY) Programme:
i. “The Teenage Years” (Lower Sec) package
ii. “Sense & Sexuality” (Upper Sec) package
6. The values and attitudes of our youth towards sexuality are increasingly being shaped by their peers, exposure to the media, popular culture and the internet. Adolescence is a complex stage in life as the adolescent attempts to find his/her own identity and often struggles with new social relationships. The period of middle adolescence (generally from 15 – 17 years old) can be a turbulent period for adolescents. The gap between physical and emotional/cognitive maturity may result in a tendency to act on impulse, experiment with various activities (including sexual activities), sometimes without understanding the unpleasant consequences that may arise from such experimentation. The need for peer acceptance can be overwhelmingly strong, and hinder one’s ability to act responsibly. Given the pressures faced by the middle adolescent from within themselves and from peers, it is important to build a strong sense of self-worth, personal convictions and an understanding of the possible consequences of sexual behaviour.
7. Through “The Teenage Years” and “Sense & Sexuality”, secondary students will have opportunity to develop a positive self esteem, build their character, expand their understanding and repertoire of skills to deal with various issues related to sexuality, which are of prime concern at this age.
At BEDOK SOUTH SECONDARY SCHOOL, the following lessons from the GY series will be covered in 2009:
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Target Levels
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Topics/Lessons
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What pupils will learn
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Time period
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Sec 1
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Healthy Relationships with the Opposite Sex
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· Understanding that respect is the
underlying value for a healthy relationship
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Term 1
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Sec 1
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Pornography and its Effects
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· Identify pornography
· Understand that possession and distribution of pornography is illegal
· Understand why teenagers read/watch pornographic materials
· Know the negative effects of
pornography
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Term 2
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Sec. 2
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Crushes and Love
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· Differentiate between infatuation, love and sexual desires
· Recognize and demonstrate the importance of cultivating healthy relationships
· Understanding constructive ways of expressing love
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Term 1
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Sec 2
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Going Steady – Correct Age
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· Understand what it means to go steady
· Know the pros and cons of going steady at the correct age
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Term 2
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Sec 3
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Reach for a rewarding relationship
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· Identify essential elements for building healthy relationships
· Building healthy relationships from acronym REACH.
· Assess healthy or unhealthy relationships
· Recognise the harmful effects of unhealthy relationships
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Term 1
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Sec 3
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Single dating – Should I start?
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· Know advantages of group dating/activities as opposed to single dating for their age group
· Identify factors that expose students to the temptations of sexual intimacy
· Recognize supportive roles of family/parents in the teenagers’ activities and relationships
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Term 1
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Sec 3
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Going Steady: Should I Wait?
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· Identify consequences of rushing into going steady
· Learn some benefits of waiting to go steady
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Term 2
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Sec 3
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Is Sex really touch and Go
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· Understanding relationships and
consequences
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Term 2
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Sec 3
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Must Break ups lead to ups and downs
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· Learn the process of grief and loss that people experience when a relationships breaks down
· Identify healthy ways in dealings with break ups
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Term 2
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Sec. 4/5
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Happily Ever After
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· Identify values and characteristics they would like in their marriage partner
· Recognize the dangers and pitfalls in marital relationship
· Recognize that commitment is a necessary ingredient for success in marriage
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Term 1
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Sec 4/5
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Friends First, Friends Forever
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· Reflect on what they have learnt in the previous lessons
· Identify situations that expose them to the temptations of sexual intimacy
· Identify 3 viewpoints that they have changed after what they have learnt from the lessons.
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Term 2
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Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) Programme
8. The Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) is a programme developed by Health Promotion Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education for all Sec 3 students. The programme focusses on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)/HIV education and aims to raise awareness of the modes of transmission of the different STIs/HIV, as well as the modes of protection. Students are taught skills such as decision-making, assertiveness and negotiation in order to say no to sex and negative peer pressure. Abstinence as the best option for teens remains a key message.
At BEDOK SOUTH SECONDARY SCHOOL, the BDB programme will be implemented as follows in 2009 (post exams period):
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Topics/Lessons
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What pupils will learn:
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Time Period
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Mass Talk by HPB appointed vendor
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· Awareness of the different STIs and HIV/AIDS
· Modes of transmission
· Modes of protection, specifically the use of condom
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Term 4
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Class-based Lesson 1: Decision-Making
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· Consequences in any decision they make regarding sexual intercourse
· Decision-making is a process that can be learnt
· It is important to have correct and accurate information to make the right decisions regarding one’s sexual health
· How to make decisions that will reduce the risk to their sexual health.
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Term 4
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Class-based Lesson 2: Assertiveness
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· What is assertive behaviour?
· How can one respond to persuasion assertively
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Term 4
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Class-based Lesson 3:
Negotiation
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· How to negotiate one’s way out of a negative situation by applying skills learnt from Lesson 2
· Assessing situations to aid the control of impulses in sexual behaviour
· Revision of risk reduction for STIs/HIV (learnt earlier in mass lecture).
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Term 4
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INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
i. Parents can opt their children out of the entire sexuality education programme or for individual topics, talks or workshops.
ii. Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Growing Years Series need to complete an opt-out form. This form will be distributed to parents at the start of the year and can also be downloaded from the school’s website. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the Form teachers.
iii. Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Breaking down Barriers Programme need to complete an opt-out form. This form will be distributed to parents prior to the start of the programme and can also be downloaded from the school’s website. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office by 15 Sep 2009.
iv. Parents can attend the sexuality education programmes by external providers with their children if they wish to. Parents should contact the school to make the necessary arrangements.
v. For more information, please contact the school’s Sexuality Education Coordinator Mr Ghazali Wahab at 64414479 ext 107 or
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if you would like to discuss or seek clarifications about our school’s sexuality education programme.
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Dept 
