Published in ST Forum 9th May 2009 by Alexandra Serrenti
As published:
I READ with great concern the Ministry of Education’s statement regarding the suspension of Aware’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme.
The programme was based on material put together by leading international academics, health workers and medical experts working with the International Women’s Health Coalition. As such, it is a document reflecting some of the most recent research on women’s health, reproductive and gender issues worldwide. Singaporean counsellors, social workers, law enforcement officers, parents and teachers have attested to the value and importance of Aware’s programme for our youth today.
The suspension of the programme is a step in the wrong direction and sends a message that as a society, we are not prepared to stand up for the facts as established by authoritative medical and social work groups when social pressure is strong. Surely, this is not the signal we want to send, both to groups in Singapore and also to the international community to which Singapore belongs.
Alexandra Serrenti (Ms)
Original (reproduced with permission):
Is the Ministry of Education now defending prejudice over informed medical opinion?
I read with great concern the press release by the Ministry of Education over the suspension of AWARE’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme.
AWARE’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme was based upon material put together by leading international academics, health workers and medical experts working with the International Women’s Health Coalition. As such, it is a document reflecting some of the most recent research on women’s health, reproductive and gender issues worldwide. As those individuals who attended Saturday’s EGM will know, Singaporean counsellors, social workers, law enforcement officers, parents and teachers have attested to the value and importance of AWARE’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme for our youth today.
The Government of Singapore and the Ministry of Education have garnered much credibility internationally because of their respect for expert testimony on medical, health and pedagogic issues. We are internationally respected because of our fearless determination to build an education system that is based on and supported by good research and by informed expert opinion.
In this respect, I am deeply disappointed to hear of the Ministry’s decision to suspend support for AWARE’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme on account of the protests of persons who have NOT attended any of AWARE’s CSE programme sessions. Public sentiment has been whipped up by a group of women (Dr Thio Siew Mien and the deposed Exco of AWARE) who have been shown to have no medical or social work expertise — and precious little impartiality when it comes matters of sexuality and sexuality education.
That the Ministry of Education should have suspended AWARE’s well-respected programme on these grounds is a step in the wrong direction and sends a message that as a society, we are not prepared to stand up for the facts as established by authoritative medical and social work groups if social pressure is strong enough. Surely, this is not the signal we want to send, both to groups within Singapore, and also to the international community to which Singapore belongs.
Alexandra Serrenti
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