‘Sex education should be introduced as a compulsory subject in schools.’

What is your opinion? You should write at least 350 words. Illustrate your opinion with examples.

Talk about the birds and the bees and prepare to get mixed reactions, whether nods of silent consent or a furore of angry protests, by the public. True, Malaysia is a developing country that has scaled great heights in numerous aspects, yet social stigma still has it that sex is a confidential issue and taboo that should not be discussed publicly. Therefore, many views were expressed when the Malaysian government proposed to introduce sex education into the current education system. Some called it madness, while others applauded the spirit of the Ministry of Education in making such a courageous decision. As for me, I concur wholeheartedly with the government’s new policy.

One good thing that this move would bring is that of dispelling myths and old wives’ tales surrounding intercourse. As an example, many people are instilled with the belief that females would not get pregnant at the first try. However, it is not proven scientifically and couples who are unprepared to bring a new life into this world are faced with a dilemma of choosing whether to keep the foetus or to abort it. Those who opted to give birth to the foetus but were unable to care for it, would then abandon the child; contributing to the rise of the numbers of abandoned children in this country. Efforts by the government to combat this issue are evident, such as the baby hatch that was set up recently in Petaling Jaya. However, as the saying goes, prevention is indeed better than cure, and is also much cheaper than cure. Thus the community should be thoroughly educated so as to know what their moment of folly would bring.

Following that, sex education in schools would certainly raise the public awareness of schoolchildren, especially teenagers who have reached puberty and are nearing maturity. It is never easy to satisfy the curiosity of an inquisitive child. As they approach puberty, changes in their body and the sudden interest towards the opposite sex would definitely pique their desire to know more about the opposite sex. Rather than letting them learn through the wrong channels, why not let the Ministry of Education device a syllabus which would answer most of their questions and at the same time, encourage and promote the benefits of post-marital sex? This would ensure the children getting the correct information from the right source, wouldn’t it?

Furthermore, the society should be exposed to the dangers Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) pose, and what better way to educate the public than to start by educating children, the Masters of the future? It has been told that if you spare the rod, you’ll spoil the child. Thus by teaching the children that pre-marital sex is prohibited not only by the law but by religious aspects as well, we would be moulding a generation community which would abstain from pre-marital sex as their mindset would have been long set since young. Other than that, by knowing the diseases associated with uncontrolled sex, the children –in the future- would be discouraged from participating in intercourses without basic precautions.

Being enrolled in sex education, the children would be taught the difference between a ‘friendly touch’ and a ‘malicious touch’. For instance, a girl who has been educated would know if the person attempting to get close to her has a nefarious motive and would be able to act rationally at the time of distress. She would also be able to keep her calm and composure besides gathering evidence for the police instead of wailing and crying helplessly. Moreover, contrary to popular belief, boys are of as much danger as compared to girls. As girls were given more attention, we forget that boys could also be victims of rapists. Hence it is obvious that boys should attend the sex education class too as the knowledge gained would be essential in the real life if anything happens.

All in all, my stand remains strong and firm: Sex education should be taught in school. However, the burden on honing young minds in this area should not be placed entirely on school teachers but to be shared equally by the parents as the primary education of every child starts at home. Of course, syllabi which are age-appropriate have to be arranged. Let us ask ourselves this: Do we want our children to be taught that they were delivered by storks; or they be given the correct and relevant information? It is time for you to play the judge and decide if this new policy should be encouraged or condemned.