Sex education 'endorsed' for school curriculum
Sex education 'endorsed' for school curriculum
JAKARTA (JP): Sex education should be made part of the school
curriculum to provide accurate information on sex as early as
possible and head off unwanted consequences of teen sexual
experimentation, a psychologist and a sexologist said here at the
weekend.
Psychological consultant Ami Siamsidar and Ramona Sari, an
instructor on sex education training, urged the government
Saturday to include sex education in all levels of the formal
school curriculum.
Classes were necessary to give students standard information
on the subject, the two said in a seminar on sex education for
teenagers, held by Centra Mitra Muda youth center.
Ami said natural sexual urges inevitably prodded teenagers to
consider sexual experimentation.
"How dangerous, then, if they do not receive proper
information on sexual matters."
Ami acknowledged it would take time to introduce the subject
into the school curriculum because it had not been considered
previously by the government and there were many teachers against
discussion of sex in schools.
"So, before sex education is formally taught in schools, it
should first be socialized among teachers. How can they pass the
right knowledge and right teaching methods to students if they
still consider it a taboo?"
She warned it was important to treat sex education as a
serious subject, or else it would descend into vulgar and
immature treatment.
"Terminology on sexual anatomy should be expressed as
scientifically as possible. For example, if we are to inform
children, we should avoid using 'bird' for penis as children will
be confused on differentiating it from the real bird."
Ami said parents could start to inform children about sexual
matters whenever the latter asked.
She believed poor information and ignorance of sexuality were
the cause of an increase in teen sex problems.
Evidence was that the number of teenagers infected with
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) was on the rise, she added.
Data from the School of Medicine of the University of
Indonesia shows 70 percent of male teenagers in Jakarta with
sexual problems had an STD.
Ramona said the actual number was probably much higher because
people often attempted self-treatment. "Usually, these teenagers
will finally seek help from medical doctors if they can no longer
control the illness."
She said it was clear teenagers were experimenting sexually.
"That's why it is no longer time for both the teachers or parents
to cover up information on sexual matters. Instead, they should
educate them with the right information." (ind)