BY SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA & ALVERTEKOSTER ANYAP
KUCHING: Welfare, Community, Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah recently suggested that sex education should start at home with equal focus on both boys and girls.
She said that parents should be open and approachable when their children asked them about sex, contraception and intimacy.
While sex in general still remains a taboo in Asian societies, parents are becoming more aware of the importance of sex education in order to help their children understand and avoid social ills such as unwanted pregnancies.
New Sarawak Tribune spoke to the public and found that parents in particular agreed that sex education should start at home by having open communication on the matter.
MOHAMMAD NASRIN MOHAMMAD SHADAN (mechanical technician)
As a father, I will only teach sex education to my children when they’re adolescents. In their early ages, I believe religious knowledge plays an important role in shaping my children’s morals and personalities. This in turn will also contribute to effectiveness in preventing them from getting involved in social ills.
RASHID LAM OYA BUJANG (lawyer)
It is our duty as parents to educate our children on sex education, so beginning a conversation about sexuality early and continuing that conversation as the child grows is the best sex education strategy. By doing this, parents can avoid giving one big talk when the child has reached adolescence. By then, there is a possibility they may think they already have the information and won’t be receptive. It is important to explain things in a way that the children can understand based on their age and level of understanding.
LUCIA EMPINA (teacher)
I think an open communication with our children should start early and this includes conveying appropriate information about sex when they become adolescents. This will be more effective as we can reduce and prevent the issues of unwanted pregnancies as well as baby dumping. As the saying goes, everything starts from home so we must educate our children on these things.
ANIS AZHAR (Programme Officer)
Parents should give appropriate explanation on sex in accordance to their respective religion and culture so that the children will have some knowledge. This is better than the children asking outsiders or searching for information on the Internet without their parents’ supervision. It can also prevent the children from being pressured by peers who are involved in social ills.
AISHAH SABRINA ABDUL JALAL (Programme Officer)
Children are now exposed to social media that may contain inappropriate information but sex education will help them to understand these issues in the right manner and protect them. Parents can utilise various mediums and approaches like storytelling to convey the messages that need to be addressed. They must understand how and when to use different mediums and approaches based on their children’s ages.
JEROME BENNET (freelancer)
I agree that sex education should start from home. It depends on how parents raise their children. They should talk about sex education with their children when they are old enough. Not only will the children understand sex but it is also for their knowledge and safety too so that cases like baby dumping can be prevented.
