Parents are being engaged to talk to children and youths about
sexuality.
This through a programme called Love Them. Talk About
Sex.
Dr Ng Eng Hen said the Ministry of Education has been working with
the Health Promotion Board and the Ministry of Community
Development, Youth and Sports to better equip parents to play their
role through the programme.
He was giving a written response to Madam Cynthia Phua, MP for
Aljunied GRC.
She asked if a study had been done on the rising number of young
people engaging in consensual sex.
In reply, Dr Ng said the rise in teenage sexual activity is a trend
seen in many countries.
While his ministry itself has not conducted specific research into
the causes behind this trend, he said existing research and
feedback from school counsellors suggest that the causes are
multi-factorial.
On sex education in school, he said a committee of education,
health and social service professionals, meets regularly to review
the curricula and its effectiveness.
He also highlighted various school courses and programmes to
address the issue.
And Dr Ng said students, who are likely to be sexually active, are
given one-on-one counselling sessions by their full time school
counsellors or referred to other health services with parental
consent.
--938Live
