Training of Teachers for the Revised Sexuality Education Programme

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for Education with the implementation of the revised sexuality education programme (a) how are teachers selected to be trained to teach the Growing Years (GY) and Empowered Teens (eTeens) curricula; and (b) for teachers who are not selected to teach the GY or eTeens curricula, whether there will be a set of ethos that teachers within and across schools are expected to adhere to, to ensure congruent values are being conveyed to and nurtured in students.

Mr Heng Swee Keat: As Sexuality Education (SEd) deals with growing-up issues and societal norms, thoughtful and mature handling is required. The two staple SEd programmes are the Growing Years Programme and the classroom-based segment of the eTeens. Teachers delivering the programmes should:

(i) Believe in the importance of sexuality education;

Page: 541

(ii) Be comfortable teaching the subject;

(iii) Possess good facilitation skills and able to establish good rapport with their students; and

(iv) Hold values aligned to those underlying MOE's sexuality education programme.

Regardless of whether teachers are teaching sexuality education or other subjects, all of them would play a key role in values inculcation. All teachers are guided by the Ethos of the Teaching Profession (Ethos) which encapsulates the values, beliefs and practices of our profession. The Ethos serves as a compass for all our teachers and sets the foundation for their professional practice. It ensures that congruent values are upheld and transmitted across the entire teaching service. For example, our teachers place the child at the centre of what they do and believe that every child can learn and achieve.

Teachers are also committed to nurturing the whole child holistically, shaping their character and honing in them an instinct of right and wrong. Continual professional conversations and guidance from mentors and school leaders, further serve to remind teachers of the ethos and values to be upheld by the teaching fraternity.