All smiles: Nancy (seated, third from right) alongside guests posing for a photo at the Madani Malaysian Nationhood Seminar opening ceremony at the Malaysian Nationhood Academy in Sampadi, Sarawak. — Bernama
LUNDU: Sex education in Malaysia must be given more serious attention through a comprehensive approach that involves schools, parents and government agencies, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said sex education should no longer be treated as a taboo subject, but rather, recognised as a crucial element in shaping values and protecting children and adolescents, particularly in today’s increasingly digital world.
“Sex education is included in the school curriculum, but its content remains limited and is often underemphasised.
“This is a shortcoming that we must address immediately,” she told reporters after opening an event yesterday, Bernama reported.
“The reluctance of teachers to address the topic, often due to shyness or cultural sensitivities, has resulted in sex education being only lightly touched upon, even though it is included in the textbooks.”
Nancy said the matter had been discussed at the highest level, including at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, involving various ministries and government agencies.
Nancy said addressing the issue would require an integrated approach and most importantly, bringing parents together to educate children about values and personal safety.
“This is an issue that concerns the safety and well-being of our children, and we are actively exploring the most effective and comprehensive ways to address it,” she said.
The ministry, she said, would also ensure that parenting programmes would contain elements of sex education.
“This is to help parents communicate with their children openly and safely on the topic,” Nancy added.
Recently in Kelantan, a police officer who checked his 14-year-old daughter’s cellphone was shocked to find sexually suggestive messages between the girl and a teenage boy.
