The Ministry of Education (MOE) provides sexuality education in schools to complement the primary role that parents play in this area of their children’s behaviour and development.

The Minister for Education Dr Ng Eng Hen stated this in a written parliamentary reply to Member-of-Parliament Madam Cynthia Phua regarding sex education in schools.

Madam Phua had asked what the Ministry is doing to address the growing trend of young people engaging in consensual sex.

Dr Ng stated that "age appropriate sexuality education is delivered through the formal curriculum", which "advocates abstinence as the best option for teens and helps them to understand the risks and consequences of pre-marital sex."

Madam Phua also asked whether the Ministry has conducted any studies to find out why this trend is increasing.

To that, Dr Ng replied that MOE "has not conducted specific research into the causes behind this trend, but existing research and feedback from school counsellors suggest that the causes are multi-factorial." 

As to whether the Ministry will review its sex education programme to increase its effectiveness, Dr Ng stated that a committee of education, health and social service professionals has been set up to regularly review the curricula on sexuality education and its effectiveness.   

Below are the questions and answers, published in full.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: To ask the Minister for Education with the rise in the number of young people indulging in consensual sex (a) what is the Ministry doing to address this problem; (b) whether the Ministry has conducted any studies to find out why this trend is increasing; and (c) whether the Ministry will review its sex education programme to increase its effectiveness.

Dr Ng Eng Hen:

To address this trend, MOE provides sexuality education in schools to complement the primary role that parents play in this area of their children’s behaviour and development.  Age appropriate sexuality education is delivered through the formal curriculum on Health Education, Civic and Moral Education and Science as well as through the co-curricular programme “Growing Years”, which seeks to equip students with the essential knowledge and skills to form healthy relationships with the opposite sex, while making responsible, values-based decisions on matters of sexuality. It advocates abstinence as the best option for teens and helps them to understand the risks and consequences of pre-marital sex. Teenagers are also educated about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV, and protection against these diseases from a health perspective, through the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) programme, “Breaking Down Barriers”.  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. 

As parents are a child’s first educators, MOE has been working with HPB and MCYS to better equip parents to play their role through a programme called “Love Them. Talk About Sex”. This programme seeks to raise parents’ awareness about the importance of sexuality education and give them tips on how to talk to their children about sexuality matters. 

The rise in teenage sexual activity is a trend seen in many countries. While MOE itself has not conducted specific research into the causes behind this trend, existing research and feedback from school counsellors suggest that the causes are multi-factorial. 

The Director-General for Education chairs a committee of education, health and social service professionals, which has been set up to regularly review the curricula on sexuality education and its effectiveness.