Role of parents in sex education

IT is ironic that while many couples strive to have their own children, there are young people who are abandoning or even killing their newborns.

Due to lack of knowledge in making healthy and respectful choices regarding their relationships, sexuality and emotional and physical health, otherwise known as sex education, many girls become pregnant unintentionally.

Unable to take on the responsibility of raising a child, some will abandon their babies or, worse, kill them.

Sex education in Malaysia has improved in recent years, but a lot still needs to be done to make it better. Sex education here is mainly the responsibility of schools because in most families, sex is still considered taboo and not openly discussed.

There is a stark difference in the approach to sex education between Eastern and Western cultures. Eastern families tend to adopt a vague and evasive attitude compared to their Western counterparts. The most common response by Eastern parents is resort to using myths when discussing the subject.

Instead of allowing children to obtain information from other channels such as the Internet or their friends, it would be better to sit down and discuss the subject with them openly, and with the right information at hand.

With the Internet being so accessible, avoiding the topic will only encourage curious children to seek information from other sources.

Parents cannot rely on schools to provide the education that is important for their children’s future well-being. They must accept that sex education is not about encouraging children and young people to have sex, but rather to teach them to understand and appreciate their sexuality and take responsibility for their own sexual health and well-being.

This includes telling them about contraception and the serious consequences of unintended pregnancies.

Incorrect knowledge about sexual matters often has a negative impact on the physical and mental health of children, especially when their concepts of sex and standards of behaviour have yet to be formed. Parents need to play the role of a mentor and provide professional help and support when necessary.

ANG WEI ZHI

Penang