FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1986
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SEX EDUCATION GUIDELINES ISSUED TO SCHOOLS
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GUIDELINES FOR TEACHING THREE MAIN ASPECTS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PHYSICAL GROWTH, EMOTIONAL MATURATION AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS - UNDER THE BROAD SUBJECT HEADING OF SEX EDUCATION HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS,
THE GUIDELINES, PUBLISHED IN BOOKLET FORM, WERE DRAWN UP BY THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AFTER IT HAD TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, MEDICAL EXPERTS, SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND OTHER CONCERNED GROUPS.
THE BOOKLET SETS OUT TO ESTABLISH SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN THE TEACHING OF SEX EDUCATION. IT ALSO SUGGESTS WAYS TO TEACH THE SUBJECT THROUGH A CROSS-CURRICULAR APPROACH WHICH WAS ENDORSED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN 1984 AND SUBSEQUENTLY AGREED BY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AT A SEMINAR IN JUNE 1985.
THROUGH THE FORMAL CURRICULUM THE GUIDELINES SUGGEST THAT SEX EDUCATION BE TAUGHT AS AN INTEGRATED PART OF SOCIAL STUDIES, INTEGRATED SCIENCE AND HOME ECONOMICS IN FORMS 1-3 AND HUMAN BIOLOGY, BIOLOGY, RELIGIOUS STUDIES AND SOCIAL STUDIES AT THE SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL.
SCHOOLS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO INTRODUCE ELEMENTS OF SEX EDUCATION THROUGH EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN THE FORM OF TALKS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AND VISITS TO FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CENTRES.
THE GUIDELINES RECOMMEND THAT PERSONAL PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED IN CLASSROOMS- RATHER THEY SHOULD BE DEALT WITH THROUGH THE SCHOOL COUNSELLING SERVICE AND PUPILS SHOULD BE ASSURED OF CONFIDENTIALITY.
THE BOOKLET ALSO CONTAINS A SCHEME OF WORK FOR STUDENTS AND DETAILED CURRICULUM GUIDES INCLUDING TEACHING OBJECTIVES, IDEAS FOR LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION ON RESOURCE MATERIALS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID: +SCHOOLS MAY DESIGN THEIR OWN PROGRAMMES THAT ARE MOST APPROPRIATE TO THE IR PUPILS BACKGROUND AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. HOWEVER, IN DEALING WITH CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES ABOUT WHICH SOME PARENTS MIGHT HOLD STRONG VIEWS, HEADS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT PARENTS IF NECESSARY.
+WHILE A CROSS-CURRICULAR APPROACH IS RECOMMENDED IN THE GUIDELINES, SCHOOLS ARE FREE TO TEACH SEX EDUCATION AS AN INDEPENDENT SUBJECT, PROVIDED THE SYLLABUSES ARE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL AS IN THE CASE WITH OTHER SUBJECTS INITIATED BY SCHOOLS.+
/TO ASSIST