NS trainees to learn sex education at camp

"The subject would enlighten about 100,000 trainees yearly on family life and positive relationship between gender such as mutual respect between male and female trainees."

SEREMBAN: Sex Education or Reproductive and Social Health Education has officially become a subject in the National Service Training Programme. 

The inclusion of the subject was officiated by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil at the Sri Perkasa National Service Training Camp here today.

In her speech, Shahrizat said that the subject would enlighten about 100,000 trainees yearly on family life and positive relationship between gender such as mutual respect between male and female trainees. 

She said about 1,500 facilitators would be trained to teach the subject. 

Speaking to reporters later, she said the lessons would be imparted in an interactive form to avoid the trainees from becoming bored.

She said gender, family, reproductive health and violence issues would be covered in the well-being module. 

The module is developed by the National Population and Family Development Board, the Ministry of Health, the Federation Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia, All Women's Action Society Malaysia, the Women's Aid Organisation and the Pacific Outreach Society. 

"The trainees need guidance. If they are engaged in illicit sex, they will know implications and consequences," she said.

She hoped the initiative would help reduce unbecoming behaviours among young people, such as promiscuity, misuse of the Internet and unwed pregnancy. 

-- BERNAMA