‘No research to link sex education to pornography’

2015-02-17

 There is no research linking sex education and pornography but “explicit” sex education could actually stimulate teenagers and excite them to know more, according to experts.

This is the opinion of psychologists following the statement made yesterday by PAS Ulama wing information chief Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali at-Takiri, who said the government’s plan to introduce sex education in secondary school next year would cause youths to watch pornography.

He proposed “Islamic sex education” and teaching of abstinence instead.

The PAS cleric made the comment after Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Karim’s said a new syllabus will be introduced for boys aged 16 years and above next year to increase awareness on reproductive and social health topics.

Universiti Putra Malaysia Social Science and Development senior lecturer, Dr Hanina Hamsan, said she was not aware of what the new syllabus looked like but she imagined it would be “visual”.

“We might actually stimulate them (teenagers) by showing them pictures and graphic examples,” she said. “At this age, teenagers’ biological and sexual functions are active, so teaching them sex education could make them more curious to know more and explore themselves.”

She said sex education could be implemented depending on the content of syllabus and the target groups.

“If it is teaching sexual health. then go ahead. However, if it is more towards sex, we have to be careful. Some teenagers from rural areas are naive about sex, so exposing them could spark their curiosity.”

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities senior lecturer and developmental psychologist, Dr Suzana Mohd Hoesni, echoed this view, saying “too explicit” sex education, such as in the United States – where students are shown how to put on a condom, could encourage teenagers to try it out.

“It depends on the context and how the syllabus will be taught,” she said.

However, sex education proponents and sexual health experts believe PAS’s statement is outright ludicrous.

“Why would he connect sex education with pornography?” Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia programme services head Lim Hwei Mian said.

“Recently, an article stated Terengganu had the highest number of porn viewers in the country, so this goes on without proper sex education anyway.

“Therefore, what is the justification for making the statement?”

Lim said sex education teached young people about biology and reproductive health system, and empowering young girls to learn to say no, and not how to have sex.

“we need comprehensive sec education because we need to give young people the correct information.

“Then they will make the right decision and know the consequences of their actions,” she said.

Sex educator June Low asked Mohd Khairuddin to provide peer-reviewed evidence that teens will not watch porn if they are taught Islamic sex education. She also said abstinence-only sex education had been proven not to work time and time again.

Malaysian Association for Adolescent Health secretary Dr Kamarudin Ahmad believes sex education is important because if we did not teach proper sex education, teenagers will look for it elsewhere, such as through the Internet and peer groups, which are dangerous.

However, he said the ministry should consider starting sex education at an earlier age such as pre-school.

“If the ministry would go ahead with the new syllabus for teenagers, they should focus on the implementation and also train the teachers, so that the delivery will be effective.”