Sexuality Education (SEd) in schools is about enabling students to understand the physiological, social and emotional changes they experience as they mature, develop healthy and rewarding relationships including those with members of the opposite sex, and make wise, informed and responsible decisions on sexuality matters. SEd is premised on the importance of the family as the basic unit of society. This means encouraging healthy, heterosexual marriages and stable nuclear family units with extended family support. The teaching and learning of SEd is based on respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and religious communities in Singapore on sexuality issues.

The goals of Sexuality Education are to:

1. To help students make wise, responsible and informed decisions through the provision of accurate, current and age-appropriate knowledge on human sexuality and the consequences of sexual activity;
2. To help students know themselves and build healthy and rewarding relationships through the acquisition of social and emotional skills of self-awareness, management of their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, development of empathy for others, possession of effective communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills; and
3. To help students develop a moral compass, respect for themselves and for others as sexual beings, premised on the family formed from a healthy, heterosexual marriage as the basic unit of society, through the inculcation of positive mainstream values and attitudes about sexuality.

The key messages of Sexuality Education are:

1. Love and respect yourself as you love and respect others
2. Build positive relationships based on love and respect (which are the foundation for strong families);
3. Make responsible decisions for yourself, your family and society; and
4. Abstinence before marriage is the best protection against STIs/HIV and unintended pregnancies. Casual sex can harm and hurt you and your loved ones.

You may click here for more information on MOE Sexuality Education.

Sexuality Education is delivered in a holistic manner through the school curriculum. The content for Sexuality Education is grouped into five main themes: Human Development, Interpersonal Relationships, Sexual Health, Sexual Behaviour, and, Culture, Society and Law. You may click here for more information on the scope of Sexuality Education in the school curriculum.

Sexuality Education is taught through the formal curriculum. The subjects that incorporate topics on sexuality include:
• • Science
• • Character and Leadership Education (CLE)

Growing Years (GY) Programme

• • “The Teenage Years (2nd Edition)” (Lower Sec) Teaching & Learning resource package
• • “Sense & Sexuality (2nd Edition)” (Upper Sec) Teaching & Learning resource package

The values and attitudes of our youth towards sexuality are increasingly shaped by their peers, exposure to the media, popular culture and the internet. Adolescence is a complex stage in life as the adolescent attempts to find his/her own identity and often struggles with new social relationships. The period of middle adolescence (generally from 15 – 17 years old) can be a turbulent period for adolescents. The gap between physical and emotional/cognitive maturity may result in a tendency to act on impulse, experiment with various activities (including sexual activities), sometimes without understanding the unpleasant consequences that may arise from such experimentation. The need for peer acceptance can be overwhelmingly strong, and hinder one’s ability to act responsibly. Given the pressures faced by the middle adolescent from within themselves and from peers, it is important to build a strong sense of self-worth, personal conviction and an understanding of the possible consequences of sexual behaviour.

Through “The Teenage Years” and “Sense & Sexuality” packages, secondary students will have the opportunity to develop a positive self-esteem, develop their character, and expand their understanding and repertoire of skills to deal with various issues related to sexuality, which are of prime concern at this age

At RAFFLES GIRLS’ SCHOOL (SECONDARY), the following lessons from the Growing Years Programme will be taught in 2014:

Target Levels	Unit	Lessons/ Duration	LESSON OBJECTIVES At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:	Time Period
Year 1	The Real Self	1 (55 min)	• know how one’s perception of his body is linked to personal experiences and the sources of information that are taken in • recognise that one’s self-perception is influenced by his perception of his body • know strategies to develop healthy/positive perception of one’s body.	Term 3 Week 5
	Lessons About Love	2 (55 min)	• recognise the importance of cultivating friendships with members of the same and opposite sex • recognise what constitutes healthy and unhealthy relationships • recognise the influence of peers on oneself and one’s value system • distinguish between various types of love • know that the underlying value for healthy relationships is respect	Term 3 Week 6
Year 2	Lessons about Love	1 (55 min)	• recognise the importance of developing a friendship before committing to a romantic relationship • recognise what dating involves • know the different levels of physical intimacy in a relationship • know that certain public displays of affection are not considered appropriate behaviour in our society • recognise that it is important to seek their family’s views, beliefs and expectations with regard to dating and romantic relationships in teenage years	Term 2 Week 6
		2 (55 min)	• reflect on the reasons for people to use social networking sites to make friends or to engage their existing friends • know the usefulness and dangers of making friends over social networking platforms • recognise that the media can influence the way people think, feel and behave • identify ways to protect themselves from negative influences from the media	Term 2 Week 7
Year 3	Lessons About Love	1 (55 min)	• recognise differences in perspectives of dating and romantic relationships • evaluate one’s readiness for romantic relationships • recognise challenges that occur in the context of a relationship • examine how our response to emotions can affect relationships positively or negatively	Term 3 Week 2
		2 (55 min)	• recognise the different levels of physical intimacy in a relationship • know the progressive nature of actions that lead to sexual arousal and intercourse • recognise that one may unintentionally invite sexual intimacy through one’s verbal and non-verbal behaviour	Term 3 Week 3
		3 (55 min)	• recognise what constitutes responsible dating • evaluate if a dating relationship is healthy or unhealthy • demonstrate competencies in managing emotions in dating and romantic relationships	Term 3 Week 4
Year 4	Lessons About Love	1 (55 min)	• reflect on the qualities of a healthy romantic relationship • evaluate one’s readiness for a romantic relationship, leading to marriage • recognise that intimacy in a relationship need not be limited to physical intimacy • recognise that break ups can allow one to understand oneself better	Term 2 Week 1
		2 (55 min)	• recognise that commitment is a necessary ingredient for success in a marriage • identify responsibilities involved and the challenges faced in marriages	Term 2 Week 2

eTeens Programme

eTeens is a programme developed by Health Promotion Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, for Secondary 3 students. The programme was introduced to secondary schools in 2007 as the Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) programme, to provide students with accurate information on STIs, HIV and protection from a health perspective. eTeens is conducted in two segments – a mass talk segment and a classroom-based programme.

Students are taught skills such as decision-making, assertiveness and negotiation to say “no” to sex and negative peer pressure. They also learn that the impact of STIs/HIV extends beyond themselves and involves their family. Abstinence and upholding family values are the key messages. The desired outcome of the eTeens programme is that students are empowered to make wise, informed and sensible decisions.

At RAFFLES GIRLS’ SCHOOL (SECONDARY), the eTeens programme will be implemented as follows in 2014:

Topics/Lessons	Programme Learning Objectives	Time Period
Mass Talk by HPB appointed vendor	Awareness of the different STIs and HIV/AIDS Modes of transmission Modes of protection, specifically on how the condom is used Consequences and impact of STIs/HIV	Term 3 Week 2
Class-based Lesson 1:Decision-Making	Understand there are consequences in any decision one makes regarding sexual intercourse Realise that decision-making is a process that can be learnt Understand that one needs correct and accurate information to make the right decisions regarding one's sexual health Learn to make decisions that will reduce the risk to their sexual health	Term3 Week 3
Class-based Lesson 2: Assertiveness and Negotiation	Understand what assertive behaviour is Practise responding to persuasion assertively Practise negotiating one's way out of a negative situation Learn risk reduction for STIs/HIV and assess situations to aid the control of impulses in sexual behaviour	Term 3 Week 4

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

1. Parents may opt their children out of Growing Years, eTeens and/or sexuality education programmes by external providers
2. Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Growing Years (GY) programme need to complete an opt-out form.
3. This form will be distributed to parents at the start of the year and is also downloadable here. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the Form Teacher by 12/02/14.
4. Parents who wish to opt their children out of the eTeens programme need to complete an opt-out form. This form will be distributed to parents at the start of the year and is also downloadable here. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the Form Teacher by 12/02/14.
5. Parents may wish to attend the school sexuality education programmes with their children. If so, parents should discuss this with their daughters before contacting the school to make the necessary arrangements.
6. Parents can contact the school at rgss@moe.edu.sg or call 6838-7813 for discussion or to seek clarification about the school’s Sexuality Education programme