A new focus on sexual abstinence

In Uganda, there's a program called the ABC. It's an acronym for "Abstinence, Be faithful and Correct use of contraceptives". I don't quite agree that the MOE revised their SEP due to the objections of Catholics. However, I think that it will be more effective if the SEP focused on all three aspects of the ABC programme.

A common teenage tendency is that when you keep telling them don't do it, they become more curious and may just try it without the knowledge of how to make use of contraception. Moral values are often explainable and reasonable, so instead of telling them don't so it why not teach them the whole knowledge and let them know the danger of casual sex and worst if it is unprotected. Catholic or not catholic, moral values need to be taught and explained and not forced upon anyone, the effect may be opposite of what we hope to achieve.

MOE is such a joke!!! Citing only a certain religion interference in it's decision making will cause uneasiness feelings towards it and will cause disharmony between different religions. One has to wonder if MOE is trying to single out Catholicism or even Christianity to create rift between them and the other religion. Either MOE is really stupid or they are really canning and manipulative.

If the school teacher themselves are sex maniac, how you can teach sex abstinence to student in school.

You want your child to learn sexual abstinence? That's your job as a parent to teach them. The schools can handle the stuff that you're too squeamish to talk to your children about, like contraception. This whole abstinence thing didn't work out too well for the US; just look at Sarah Palin's daughter. And the disturbing trend of teenagers having children out of wedlock while still in high school.

in all fairness, the human body is ready for reproduction by the age of 12 or 13. n its fully matured (the body) by 16~18. by this time the body is calling out for sex..!! im by no means propagand for early sex but its simply our way of life that calls for later sex n this will takes a lot more effort other than religion or education.

as for whether its catholic or any other religion...its still the same physical issue...overcome the nature call n u solve the problem...how about the same drug that they issue to sex offenders..? :))

Why is MOE singling out Catholic beliefs solely to implement these values? I'm sure many parents wouldn't want their children to be sexually active (with or without condoms) before they are married. Or is this just a twisted society who encourages abortion (accidents do happen) amongst teenagers?

MOE please emphasis on Teacher abstinence from sex with their students.

...I for-see a huge spike in STDs and Unwanted pregnancy.. I mean face the facts, just because you had sex only when you got married does'nt mean your Child will do the same... Parents should play a part in sex education.. so all you dads and moms, stop working so hard and spend some REAL quality time with your children..

Isn't the SEP for every teenager and not targeting only Catholics? I just disliked the way the parents said that SEP should follow more on Catholic teachings. In the first place, isn't it the Churches and the parents' responsibility to teach their children Catholic values(if they want to) and not the SEP? so why do they so called... blame the SEP?

MOE focus on your teachers more..

Sexual education should not be the responsibility of schools.

Parents should be responsible for it. Parents grumble about how schools teach the subject and yet refuse to broach the subject with their own kids. If you yourself find it hard to do so, do you think it's easy for a teacher to teach about the birds and the bees to a class of more than 30 young adults? There's no way to please everyone and the Ministry should stop trying to do so. You pledge to teach the values of safe sex and you'll see Muslims, Catholics and god knows how many other religions cry fowl. You try to focus on abstinence and there'll be liberal parents who believe safe sex is the best way of keeping their kids safe raising a ruckus.

This is a secular education, so no preference should be given to religion. While I admit that abstinence is indeed the best form of preventing STD transmission / any other complications, the reason should not be for Catholic teachings. They should give another reason iinstead, not related to religion.

y are they conforming based on one religion?

Well done MOE. That should help increase the population of Singapore.

If Singapore's secondary school students start to find our sex education curriculum too disconnected with the reality of their sexual practices, they are going to ignore it entirely, and instead derive their sexual mores from the dominant media of their time (i.e. Holloywood). So before Singapore changes its educational policies to make peace with vocal religious advocates, it should give some consideration to the effects of alienating the majority whose lives and morals are not entirely dominated by conservative religious perspectives.

If these communities desire to inculcate amongst their followers morals uncommon or contrary to the morals held by the general whole, they should do it within their community, and not at the national level.

It not about the teaching and belief of the catholic faith. It about basic MORAL behavior of the intelligent human being that stands above animals. Sexual union should only be reserve for the spouse and not to any one and any where. Are we becoming like the animal kingdom, just do it becaues there is a urge to do, so as long a 2 parties are willing.
Parents what do you want your child to learn.
1)dont sleep around with any one its wrong. or
2) can sleep around but dont get pregnant.

lol....they forgot abt what kind of info is accesible to kids these days

As a wise soul once said, "Vows of Abstinence Break More Easily Than Latex Condoms". Abstinence is nothing new, is it? Haven't parents, schools, churches been harping on about it for aeons? Has that, however, completely stopped pre-marital sex, abortions, birth rates amongst kids and STDs? The answer is no! Is teaching abstinence wrong then? No, it isn't but it should not be the only focus of sex education in schools.

What we would really like to see happen is that our kids are taught to be responsible, isn't it? So why not combine both? That would mean teaching the children about contraception as well as abstinence. Sex education needs to be as comprehensive so that our kids are empowered - so that they are armed with enough knowledge to make the best decision possible. They can't do so if we choose to withhold certain information on moral grounds. These children do have to grow up one day and be adults!

Though I applaud the move to teach abstinence to teenagers, however, I am appalled that MOE is pandering to religion doctrine... the teaching of abstinence should go hand in hand with safe sex, if you cannot keep your cool, at least knows where to "BREAK GLASS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY"... unless they are naive enough to believe that the teenagers are actually going to listen....

Just because the birth rate is going south doesn't means we have to deprive the kids of knowledge of contraceptives......

I think the reporter wrote on a worng angle. By featuring responses by Catholic parents ONLY is not the right thing to do. MOE did not revise its Sexuality Education Prog for the Catholics. But this article is misleading (obviously) Yahoo readers into thinking that the revision is to satisfy the Catholics. So, Yahoo News, please have an editor to at least read through your reports. Do RESPONSIBLE REPOETING PLEASE. And readers, no where is it stated in the article which says that MOE is doing this for or based on the Catholic's needs.