The issue of sex education in schools is not a new one. It is one that often surfaces when social issues arrise warranting its inception. Yet always the status quo of not having formal education on a subject that still rings the taboo alarms,is maintained for one reason or the other.
The ugly reports of unwanted babies being dumped upon birth however eclipses any other social problem that we have encountered before. I do hope that the powers that be are not waiting for more. What will it take? Sky rocketing HIV infections? Children wearing 'sex bands' stating their sexual preference for the day to school as recently reported in Brazil? Seriously as if the furor of child rape and incestuos crime was not enough.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly states that children have rights and responsibilities appropriate to their age and stage of development. The Convention also advocates that everyone concerned with children should work towards what is best for each child.
To the nay sayers and those that are so worried about the errosion of our social morality wake up, it is eroding whether we have sex education or not. Perhaps if we did earlier it would not have degraded to this state. To those of you who are away from city life, the abandoned baby in the crystal mosque reminds us that these problems are not ones to be faced by the city folk alone.
Worry not for although proper syllabus on Malaysian Sex Education is not out, I do know for a fact that teachers will not be screening pornography in classrooms. I do know that children will come out of said classes more informed on the consequences of their actions and understand the reasons our most cherished values. I believe we should give these classes a real chance to materialise and study the impact they have on the generation they educate.
Instead of picking up knicks and knacks from the internet or one of their more 'well informed' peers let our kids learn from sources we can ourselves trust.
