MOE’s Sexuality Education in Schools

Sexuality Education 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.
The goals of Sexuality Education are to:
- provide accurate and adequate knowledge on human sexuality and the consequences of sexual activity so that pupils are able to make informed decisions;
- 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
- 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.
The key messages of Sexuality Education are:
- Build healthy futures for yourself, family and society.
- Healthy relationships based on love and respect are the foundation for strong families.
- Casual sex can lead to unwanted pregnancies, STIs/HIV and AIDS which can harm and hurt your loved ones.

You may click here (Overview to MOE’s Sexuality Education) for more information.

Overview of Victoria Junior College’s Sexuality Education Programme For 2012

Sexuality Education 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

The curricular subject in which topics on sexuality are incorporated include

Science (for all IP students and JC Science students)

Co-Curricular Programmes (Civics)

Growing Years (GY) Programme
The focus for this programme is on issues in relationships. Relating with peers is a major component in the lives of IP and JC students, who spend an average of half to two-thirds of their waking hours with their peers. The focus of our package is on Interpersonal Relationships, with themes of Human Development, Sexual Health and Behaviour, and Societal Influences woven into the main focus on relationships.

Relationship Module (RM) Sticky Notes and Push Pins
The focus of this programme is on the enhancement of socialising opportunities among singles, and the nurturing among the young a pro-marriage and family mindset. The programme covers mindset and skills needed for building meaningful and mutual respectful relationships, and includes topics such as self esteem, myths surrounding relationships, communication and commitment.

At Victoria Junior College, the following lessons from the RM and GY series will be covered over 4 years:

Target Levels	Topics/Lessons	MOE Objectives What pupils will learn:	Time Period
IP2	Growing Years: “Sense and Sexuality” What’s in a Gender? Do I Really Know My Friend?	Gender differences between males and females; A better understanding of relationships; Setting boundaries Learn that they are more than physical and/or social beings View others as more than physical and/or social beings Look beyond appearances and social relationships to respect each person as a person with five dimensions	Term 4
IP2	Growing Years: “Sense and Sexuality” Must Break Ups lead to Break Downs?	Communication and relationship building;Commitment in relationships Discernment skills; and Help-seeking behaviour such as coping with break-ups and rejection. Explain the process of grief and loss that people experience when a relationship breaks down Recognise that they can actually emerge a stronger person after a break up.	Term 4
JC1	Relationship Module: Sticky Notes and Push Pins	To provide the students with the opportunity to explore and assess their identity, self-worth, values, and set goals in preparation for long term love relationships	Term 4
		To inculcate realistic beliefs, positive values and mindset towards love, dating and marriage in the students.	Term 4
		To enable students to identify and avoid unhealthy relationship patterns, to equip students with emotional intelligence, as well as skills to maintain healthy relationship boundaries, including physical intimacy, abuse, etc.	Term 4
		To empower students with confidence in relating to the opposite gender and in resolving conflicts and differences in relationships.	Term 4
	Growing Years: "You've Got the Looks"	Look for enduring character traits and personal qualities when looking for a life partner. Realise the need to develop the same qualities they look for in a life partner.	Term 4
JC2	Growing Years: Emale	Realise nature of online relationships is limiting. Awareness of the dangers and limitations of online relationships. Appreciate the need for a face-to-face relationship when looking for a marriage partner.	Term 2
	Growing Years: Do You Love Me?	Understand the different ways in which intimacy can be expressed without sexual engagement. Set limits on their behaviour in relationships that maintain their self-respect and dignity.	Term 2
	Growing Years: The Lover and the Lovee	Examine their perception of the roles of the individuals in the relationship and their impact on the relationship. Appreciate the importance of balanced roles in the healthy development of relationships.	Term 2

Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) Programme and Agape Sexuality Forum

The Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) is a programme developed by Health Promotion Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education for JC/ CI 1 students. The programme was introduced to junior colleges/ centralised institute in 2009 to give students accurate information on STIs, HIV and contraception from a health perspective. BDB is conducted in two segments—a mass talk segment and a class-based programme.
Students are taught skills such as decision-making, assertiveness and negotiation to say no to sex and negative peer pressure. They also learn that the impact of STI/HIV extends beyond themselves and involves their family. Abstinence and upholding family values are the key messages.
The Agape Forum is a school-based extension of the “Growing Years Series” sexuality education module stipulated by MOE. It serves as a prelude to the “Growing Years Series” offered by IP2 students during civics lessons.

The Agape Forum serves as a safe platform for trained teachers to address the concerns and issues of students with regards to sexuality. It augments the Growing Years Series by customizing the sexuality education offered to our IP students through addressing the questions that students had posted in a survey collected earlier.

Students are thinking beings. Hence, the underlying approach is to present abstinence as a viable option expressed in rational terms that appeal to students’ intelligence rather than to present the case through preaching. Students are also moral beings. Thus, the case made for abstinence will extend beyond merely appealing to students’ pragmatism but also to their sense of moral responsibility.

At Victoria Junior College, the BDB programme and Agape Forum will be implemented as follows in 2012 for IP and JC students:

Topics/Lessons	What pupils will learn:	Time Period
IP 1 Agape Sexuality Forum	Internally held convictions about why it makes sense to save sexual intimacy for a truly committed relationship. Strengths of character, such as good judgment, self-control, modesty, genuine respect for self and others, and the courage to resist sexual pressure and temptation Support systems for living out this commitment, such as the family, faith-based communities, school, or like minded peers for accountability	Term 4
JC1 Mass Talk by HPB appointed vendor	Awareness of the different STIs and HIV/AIDS Modes of transmission Modes of protection, specifically the use of condom	Term 4
JC1 Class-based Lesson	“The Day After Tomorrow” What are the various possible impact of contracting STI/HIV Ways of managing the challenges of the impactBe aware of support structures that people with STI/HIV may need	Term 4

Information for Parents

Parents can opt their children out of the entire sexuality education programme or for individual topics, talks or workshops.
Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Growing Years Series need to complete an opt-out form. This form (see Annex A) will be distributed to parents before the start of the programme and is also downloadable from the school’s website. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office before commencement of the programme. Please click here for the form in Chinese, Malay and Tamil .
Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Breaking Down Barriers Programme need to complete an opt-out form. This form (see Annex B) will be distributed to parents prior to the start of the programme and is also downloadable from the school’s website. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office by 14/09/12.
Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Relationship Module Programme need to complete an opt-out form. This form (see Annex C) will be distributed to parents prior to the start of the programme and is also downloadable from the school’s website. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office by 14/09/12.
Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Agape Forum need to complete an opt-out form. This form (see Annex D) will be distributed to parents prior to the start of the programme and is also downloadable from the school’s website. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office by 14/09/12.
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.
Parents can contact the school at victoriajc@moe.edu.sg for discussion or seek clarifications about the school’s sexuality education programme.