What’s Unsaid About Comprehensive Sexuality Education

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Sexuality Education is a current topic in Singapore, with the emergence of “Comprehensive Sexuality Education” (CSE). AWARE’s Chief, Ms. Corinna Lim, advocated for CSE as a means to promote gender equality, focusing on respect, consent, and gender equality. However, there’s pushback against CSE, leading to a closer examination of its finer details.

CSE, as defined by the United Nations Population Fund, emphasizes human rights and age-appropriate information. It incorporates principles regarding sexuality as a social construct tied to power dynamics. The curriculum comprises eight key concepts, designed for different age groups, targeting primary and secondary school levels.

The report highlights areas of concern regarding age-appropriateness:

• Children aged 5-8 are taught about diverse families, including same-sex and potentially polygamous relationships. They also learn about various ways people express love and care, including through physical affection and sometimes sexual behaviors.
• Children aged 9-12 are instructed to accept diverse marriage choices, including same-sex couples and transgender identities. They learn about physical pleasure, communication about sexual feelings, and sexual stimulation, including masturbation and condom use.
• Teens aged 12-15 are educated about the potential evolution of close relationships into sexual ones, non-penetrative sexual behaviors, and “transactional sexual activity” risks. They are also informed about acquiring condoms and contraceptives locally.
• Teens aged 15-18+ are taught to advocate for human rights related to sexual and reproductive health, including contentious issues like abortion, age of consent, sexual orientation, and gender identity. They also learn about homophobia and transphobia and how to support individuals facing these issues.

Some content within these age groups potentially conflicts with Singapore’s age of consent, which may lead to disagreements among parents.

Balancing cultural diversity and civil discourse is essential as Singapore navigates the sensitive topic of sexuality education. While addressing issues like bullying, voyeurism, sexism, and the impact of pornography is crucial, scrutinizing the details of CSE, rather than accepting it based on vague rhetoric, is equally important.