1.   Sexuality education (SEd) aims to help our young understand the physiological, social and emotional changes they experience as they       mature, develop healthy relationships with the opposite sex and to teach them how to make responsible choices. It is premised on the       importance of the heterosexual married family as the basic unit of society, and respect for the values and beliefs of the different ethnic and       religious communities on sexuality issues.

2.   The goals of SEd are to:
       i.  provide accurate and adequate knowledge on human sexuality and the consequences of sexual activity so that pupils are able to make            informed decisions;

      ii.  impart intra- and inter-personal skills of problem-solving, decision-making and effective communication so that pupils are able to build            responsible and rewarding relationships; and

     iii.  inculcate positive values and attitudes of sexuality so that pupils develop a respect for themselves and others as sexual beings, in line            with the national value of the family as the basic unit of society.

3.  The key messages of SEd are:
      i.    Build healthy futures for yourself, family and society.
     ii.    Healthy relationships based on love and respect are the foundation for strong families.
    iii.    Casual sex can lead to unwanted pregnancies, STIs/HIV and AIDS which can harm and hurt your loved ones.

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

Overview of Greendale Secondary school  SEd Programme for 2011
4.   Sexuality education in schools is taught in both the formal curriculum and co-curricular programmes. These are covered under four main       themes: Human Development, Interpersonal Relationships, Sexual Health and Behaviour, and, Societal Influences.

Formal Curriculum
5.   The curricular subjects in which topics on sexuality are incorporated include
       i. Science
      ii. Civics and Moral Education

Co-Curricular Programmes
Growing Years (GY) Programme:

1. “The Teenage Years” (Lower Sec) package
2. “Sense & Sexuality” (Upper Sec) package

6.   The values and attitudes of our youth towards sexuality are increasingly being 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 convictions and an understanding of the possible consequences of sexual behaviour.

7.    Through “The Teenage Years” and “Sense & Sexuality”, secondary students will have opportunity to develop a positive self esteem, build         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.

The no of hours for the GY Series in Greendale Secondary School :

At Greendale Secondary School, the following lessons from the GY series will be covered in 2011:

Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) Programme
8.   The Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) is a programme developed by Health Promotion Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education        for all Sec 3 students. The programme focuses on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)/HIV education and aims to raise awareness of        the modes of transmission of the different STIs/HIV, as well as the modes of protection. Students are taught skills such as        decision- making, assertiveness and negotiation in order to say no to sex and negative peer pressure. Abstinence as the best option for        teens remains a key message.

At Greendale Secondary School, the BDB programme will be implemented as follows in 2011:

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

1. Parents can opt their children out of the entire sexuality education programme or for individual topics, talks or workshops.
2. Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Growing Years (GY) Series need to complete an opt-out form. This form will be distributed to parents at the start of the year and is also downloadable from the school’s website. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office by 21/3/2011.
3. Parents who wish to opt their children out of the Breaking Down Barriers Programme (BDB) need to complete an opt-out form. This form will be distributed to parents prior to the start of the programme and is also downloadable from the school’s website. A hardcopy of the form, duly completed and signed, is to be submitted to the school office by 30/4/2011.
4. Parents can attend the sexuality education programmes by external providers with their children if they wish to. Parents should contact the school to make the necessary arrangements.
5. For more information, please contact the school at Tel: 63158616 to speak to HOD/Pupil Well-Beingif you would like to discuss or seek clarifications about our school’s sexuality education programme if you would like to discuss or seek clarifications about our school’s sexuality education programme.