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.

Goals of Sexuality Education

The goals of Sexuality Education are to:

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;

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

To help students develop a moral compass, respect for themselves and for others as sexual beings, premised on the family as the basic unit of society, through the inculcation of positive mainstream values and attitudes about sexuality.

Key Messages

The key messages of Sexuality Education are:

Love and respect yourself as you love and respect others;
Build positive relationships based on love and respect (which are the foundation for strong families);
Make responsible decisions for yourself, your family and society; and
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.

Overview of Jurong West Secondary School’s Sexuality Education Programme for 2018

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.

The subjects that incorporate topics on sexuality include:
i. Science
ii. Character and Citizenship Education (CCE)

Growing Years (GY) Programme

i. “The Teenage Years (2nd Edition)” (Lower Sec) Teaching & Learning resource package
ii. “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 Jurong West Secondary School, the following lessons from the GY Programme will be taught in 2020

Secondary 1

UNIT	LESSONS / DURATION	Lesson Objectives At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:	TIME PERIOD
The Real Self (Part 1)	1 (60 mins)	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 2 Week 1
Lessons about Love (Part 1) & Familiar Strangers Alert (Part 1)	2 (60 mins)	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 4 Week 1
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

UNIT

LESSONS / DURATION

Lesson Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

TIME PERIOD

The Real Self

(Part 1)

(60 mins)

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 2 Week 1

Lessons about Love (Part 1) &

Familiar Strangers Alert (Part 1)

(60 mins)

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 4 Week 1

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

Secondary 2

UNIT	LESSONS / DURATION	Lesson Objectives At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:	TIME PERIOD
Lessons about Love (Part 2) & At The Crossroads (Part 1)	1 (60 mins)	identify why relationships break down identify the emotions that accompany the breakdown of a relationship know healthy ways of coping with rejections and breakups recognise the need to be respectful and responsible in ending a relationship know ways to seek support when going through a breakdown of relationship and offer support for those going through the same	Term 1 Week 9
2 (60 mins)	recognise the sources of temptation and situations that lead to pre-marital sex know the consequences of engaging in pre-marital sex recognise that respect and responsible decision making are important in relationships recognise the value of sexual abstinence identify sources to seek help and support when faced with teenage pregnancy know/define what gender role is know the influence of family, culture and society on one’s perception of his/her gender role appreciate/ affirm one’s own unique qualities and characteristics as a male or female. know/define what sexual orientation (heterosexuality and homosexuality) is recognise the need to treat people with respect regardless of their sexual orientation	Term 4 Week 2

UNIT

LESSONS / DURATION

Lesson Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

TIME PERIOD

Lessons about Love (Part 2) & At The Crossroads (Part 1)

(60 mins)

identify why relationships break down
identify the emotions that accompany the breakdown of a relationship
know healthy ways of coping with rejections and breakups
recognise the need to be respectful and responsible in ending a relationship
know ways to seek support when going through a breakdown of relationship and offer support for those going through the same

Term 1 Week 9

(60 mins)

recognise the sources of temptation and situations that lead to pre-marital sex
know the consequences of engaging in pre-marital sex
recognise that respect and responsible decision making are important in relationships
recognise the value of sexual abstinence
identify sources to seek help and support when faced with teenage pregnancy
know/define what gender role is
know the influence of family, culture and society on one’s perception of his/her gender role
appreciate/ affirm one’s own unique qualities and characteristics as a male or female.
know/define what sexual orientation (heterosexuality and homosexuality) is
recognise the need to treat people with respect regardless of their sexual orientation

Term 4 Week 2

Secondary 3

UNIT	LESSONS / DURATION	Lesson Objectives At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:	TIME PERIOD
Lessons about Love (Part 3)	1 (60 mins)	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 11
2 – Part 1 (30 mins)	evaluate the norms of acceptability for public display of affection recognise how new media has shaped public perception of acceptability of public display of affection identify the strengths and limitations of new media in allowing people to develop serious relationships recognise how new media has influenced relationship building both positively and negatively appreciate the value of face-to-face relationships	Term 3 Week 12
The Real Self (Part 2)	2 – Part 2 (30 mins)	recognise the importance of having healthy self-esteem that is not affected by external influences demonstrate strategies to identify and evaluate sources that contribute towards healthy self-esteem recognise the importance of self-esteem in building friendships

UNIT

LESSONS / DURATION

Lesson Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

TIME PERIOD

Lessons

about

Love

(Part 3)

(60 mins)

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 11

2 – Part 1

(30 mins)

evaluate the norms of acceptability for public display of affection
recognise how new media has shaped public perception of acceptability of public display of affection
identify the strengths and limitations of new media in allowing people to develop serious relationships
recognise how new media has influenced relationship building both positively and negatively
appreciate the value of face-to-face relationships

Term 3 Week 12

The Real

Self

(Part 2)

2 – Part 2

(30 mins)

recognise the importance of having healthy self-esteem that is not affected by external influences
demonstrate strategies to identify and evaluate sources that contribute towards healthy self-esteem
recognise the importance of self-esteem in building friendships

Secondary 4

UNIT	LESSONS / DURATION	Lesson Objectives At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:	TIME PERIOD
Lessons about Love (Part 4)	1 (60 mins)	explain the process of grief and loss that people experience when a relationship breaks down exercise sensitivity and empathy when communicating break- ups recognise that one can emerge stronger after a break-up	Term 1 Week 7
“Familiar” Strangers Alert (Part 2)	2 (60 mins)	distinguish between biologically-based and socially-conditioned gender characteristics evaluate views towards self and others, with regard to gender differences and stereotypes	Term 3 Week 11

UNIT

LESSONS / DURATION

Lesson Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

TIME PERIOD

Lessons

about

Love

(Part 4)

(60 mins)

explain the process of grief and loss that people experience when a relationship breaks down
exercise sensitivity and empathy when communicating break- ups
recognise that one can emerge stronger after a break-up

Term 1 Week 7

“Familiar”

Strangers

Alert

(Part 2)

(60 mins)

distinguish between biologically-based and socially-conditioned gender characteristics
evaluate views towards self and others, with regard to gender differences and stereotypes

Term 3 Week 11

Secondary 5

UNIT	LESSONS / DURATION	Lesson Objectives At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:	TIME PERIOD
Lessons about Love (Part 5)	1 (60 mins)	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 1 Week 7
NA	2 (60 mins)	Description of the Main Task: Teacher can conduct a dialogue session with the class and engage in a discussion on the following: My ideal life partner My future (How do they envision their future to be like – in terms of their career, family etc.) Potential obstacles (What are the potential incidents that may prevent them from reaching their life goals? – distraction from studies, break ups, teenage pregnancy etc.) My pillars of support (identify the pillars of support they can have to guide them to the desired future) The purpose of this dialogue session is to surface some of the values that students may have with regard to relationships. Where appropriate, teachers could provide relevant feedback to guide students. Teachers can make use of different methods to check students’ understanding, either by asking them to sketch or jot down a few points on a personal whiteboard or post-its. After the dialogue session, students are to assess and reflect upon their own learning using a reflection form.	Term 3 Week 11

UNIT

LESSONS / DURATION

Lesson Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

TIME PERIOD

Lessons

about

Love

(Part 5)

(60 mins)

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 1 Week 7

(60 mins)

Description of the Main Task:

Teacher can conduct a dialogue session with the class and engage in a discussion on the following:

My ideal life partner
My future (How do they envision their future to be like – in terms of their career, family etc.)
Potential obstacles (What are the potential incidents that may prevent them from reaching their life goals? – distraction from studies, break ups, teenage pregnancy etc.)
My pillars of support (identify the pillars of support they can have to guide them to the desired future)

The purpose of this dialogue session is to surface some of the values that students may have with regard to relationships. Where appropriate, teachers could provide relevant feedback to guide students.
Teachers can make use of different methods to check students’ understanding, either by asking them to sketch or jot down a few points on a personal whiteboard or post-its.
After the dialogue session, students are to assess and reflect upon their own learning using a reflection form.

Term 3 Week 11

eTeens Programme

The Empowered Teens (eTeens) is a programme developed by Health Promotion Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, for Secondary 3 students to provide them 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 Jurong West Secondary School, the eTeens Programme will be implemented as follows, in 2021

Topics/Lessons	Programme Learning Objectives	Time Period
Mass Talk by HPB appointed vendor for Sec 3 and 4 students	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	TBC*
Classroom-based Lesson	Learn to negotiate their way out of a risky situation by applying skills of assertiveness and responsible decision-making	TBC*

Topics/Lessons

Programme Learning Objectives

Time Period

Mass Talk by HPB appointed vendor for Sec 3 and 4 students

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

TBC*

Classroom-based Lesson

Learn to negotiate their way out of a risky situation by applying skills of assertiveness and responsible decision-making

TBC*

*The time period for the eTeens programme will be confirmed for 2021 due to the onset of COVID-19. Alternative plans and arrangements will be considered for the future.

Information for Parents

Parents may opt their children out of Growing Years, eTeens and/or supplementary sexuality education programmes by MOE-approved external providers.

The Growing Years - For parents on Parent’s Gateway (PG), please acknowledge receipt of letter on MOE Sexuality Education in Schools - The Growing Years via PG by 31 January 2020. Parents who wished to opt their children out of the Growing Years Programme in 2020 would have completed the online Opt-out Form at https://form.gov.sg/5e1d2c97a457ea00129e548b by 31 January 2020.

Parents not on PG, and who wish to opt their children out of the Growing Years (GY) programme will 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 school office by 31 January 2020.

The Empowered Teens (eTeens) programme – Additionally, for Secondary 3 parents on Parent’s Gateway (PG), please acknowledge receipt of letter on eTeens programme via PG by 31 January 2020. Parents who wished to opt their children out of eTeens Programme in 2020 would have completed the online Opt-out Form at https://form.gov.sg/5e1ee3f53acc0e00114076c2 by 31 January 2020.

Parents not on PG, and who wish to opt their children out of the eTeens programme will 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, would have been submitted to the school office by 31 January 2020.

Parents can contact the school at jwss@moe.edu.sg or +65 6262 3593 for discussion or to seek clarification about the school’s sexuality education programme.

Parents, who wish to attend the school sexuality education programmes, should contact the school to make the necessary arrangements

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