Study on NS sex education proposal

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WELCOME: Tiki (second left) sharing a light moment with NS participants upon their arrival at Kuching International Airport. — Bernama photo

KUCHING: The National Service Training Council (NSTC) is expected to study and discuss the introduction of sex education in National Service Training Programmes at its next meeting later this month.

NSTC chairman Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe said the National Service Training Department had already compiled information and data from various bodies, including the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, religious bodies, women groups and nongovernmental organisations (NGO).

“Since we have received the views and feedback from the relevant authorities, we will discuss   it in the next council meeting later this month.

We also need to get  opinions from all (council) members.

“We want to teach  the trainees more than just HIV and AIDS like what is being taught in camps now.

We want to introduce a programme which is more structured and to achieve our objective,” he told reporters at the Kuching International Airport after receiving 81 NS trainees from the 7/2010 series who arrived from Kuala Lumpur here yesterday.

Tiki also proposed that the name for the subject be changed from sex education to gender education so that  it would sound more diplomatic, palatable, and would not confuse the people.

“There are people who like to twist facts and confuse the public.

So, instead of using sex education, I think it is less sensitive and more diplomatic to use the word gender education.

“We also don’t want sex education lessons to be used as an excuse to create  problems in the camp,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tiki said 140,000 participants were selected to attend the NS 7/2010 series at 79 camps throughout the country.

He added that five NS training camps in Kelantan, Pahang, Penang and Negeri Sembilan were closed down for various reasons.

Among reasons for theclosure was due to deplorable conditions, landslide, failure to renewland lease from the land owner and poor maintenance, he said.

“We will give these camps two years to upgrade their camps and those deemed not safe,” said Tiki adding that initially 10 camps were ordered to be closed. — Bernama