Dr Thio Su Mien & her ‘baseless’ statements on AWARE sex educational programmes

In today’s Straits Times, “Get facts on sex ed right”, a senior lawyer Dr Thio Su Mien was quoted to have said that "the Aware programme encouraged lesbianism and homosexuality. She said the programme taught young girls from the ages of 12 to 18 that it is okay to experiment with each other”.

She also made a claim that she had talked to some parents about this, and they were flabbergasted. No kidding, one does not have to be a parent to be shocked about this. Especially about how the above claim (bold in red) was issued without further elaborations and proofs. Or is it because these "some parents" were too flabbergasted to pursue further & ask?!

In the same article, Senior Minister of State for Education S. Iswaran opined that “the ministry had not received any complaints about the programme, and has had no reason to intervene thus far”. Far from being neutral, he too was said to suggest whoever made the claims (actually so far only this Dr Thio Su Mien—oh, by the way she is the 'feminist mentor' of the new guard of AWARE) had better got the facts right.

In the earlier news from Channel NewsAsia yesterday, “MOE seeks clarification on claims on AWARE's programmes”, it is reported that MOE has contacted Dr Thio Su Mien to clarify the claims she was reported to have made on the organisation's sexuality programmes.

In addition, MOE gave some detailed statistics (there were none from Dr Thio Su Mien) that “11 secondary schools engaged AWARE to run workshops on sexuality last year. The organisation also conducted assembly talks on topics such as self esteem at a few schools. Schools that engaged AWARE found its programme content appropriate for their students, adhering to MOE guidelines.”

The Director for Education Programmes of MOE, Ms. Sum Chee Wah also released a “Reply to Recent Comments and Claims About AWARE’s Sexuality Education Programme in Schools”.

Yes, MOE is being serious about any baseless statements or statements which had not yet accompanied by concrete evidences—something which are now the burden of Dr Thio Su Mien to produce.

Failing which, I would not be surprised if the so-called old guard of AWARE will mercilessly slap Dr Thio Su Mien for defaming them.

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Update on 06/05: Perhaps Dr Thio Su Mien has indeed been right all along? The latest news has MOE suspended AWARE's sexuality programme. But what I am curious at is that MOE received complaints from parents only after Dr Thio Su Mien has made public her 'unhappiness' about the programme. Parents, be more proactive, please?!

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has suspended the Association of Women for Action and Research's (AWARE) sexuality programme after a thorough investigation.

In a press statement released this afternoon, the ministry said that the "Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Basic Instructor Guide" had been pulled off because it did not conform to MOE's guidelines in some aspects.

In particular, "some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of pre-marital sex".

However, it also pointed out that there were positive aspects in the guide, like accurate information on sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV and the role-playing practice for students to say 'no' to sex.

Giving a reason for its decision, MOE said that the Singapore education system did not promote alternative lifestyles to students.

It said: "MOE's framework for sexuality education reflects the mainstream views and values of Singapore society, where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit."

Apart from looking at AWARE's sexuality programme, the ministry also investigated the course materials used during General Paper (GP) lessons in junior colleges. The material had allegedly carried information on alternative lifestyles.

However it found that there was no AWARE influence present in these lessons: Teachers had used such materials to promote discussion on family structures and to promote critical thinking on contemporary issues.

MOE also urged parents to play a bigger part in sex education.

"Parents are ultimately responsible for inculcating values to their children. MOE's sexuality education programme aims to complement parents' role in helping students make informed... decisions regarding sexuality," it said.

MOE's decision to investigate AWARE's sexuality programme was a swift turn from its earlier stance late last month.

In a letter to the Straits Times forum, the ministry had said that it saw no reason because it had not received any complaints from parents about the programme.

However, two days after the letter was published, MOE said it decided to proceed with investigations as parents had started to express concern over AWARE's sexuality programme. In the meantime, an online petition - that collected about 1,300 signatures - had been circulating, calling for schools to "exercise greater care in bringing in sexuality programmes in future".

From Asiaone, "MOE suspends Aware's programme for schools".

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Update on 07/05: The news makes it sound more neutral. Not just AWARE's sexuality programme is suspended, it's now "all sexuality education programmes run by EXTERNAL groups in school" as well. I wonder how many such external groups are there.

All sexuality education programmes run by external groups in schools - including the controversial one by the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) - have been suspended by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

In addition, the ministry will implement a new, tougher vetting process for the selection of such external programmes by schools.

The move comes about a week after some parents told MOE that they were concerned about the content found in an instructor guide for Aware's programme, which was posted online.

The Aware programme for schools was one of the touchstones of a spat within the organisation, which ended last Saturday with the ousting of a month-old leadership team who had railed against what they called 'pro-homosexuality' content in it.

MOE conducted an investigation after some parents expressed concern.

Yesterday, the press secretary to Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, Ms Jennifer Chan, said in a letter to The Straits Times that the basic instructor guide for Aware's programme did not conform to MOE's guidelines on sexuality education.

'In particular, some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of premarital sex,' she said, without elaborating on the inappropriate responses.

A copy of the guide posted online contained lines such as 'anal sex can be healthy or neutral if practised with consent and with a condom', and 'homosexuality is perfectly normal. Just like heterosexuality, it is simply the way you are'.

However, Ms Chan pointed out that some parts of the guide were positive: It gave accurate information on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, for example.

But, she stressed, the ministry and its schools 'do not promote alternative lifestyles to our students'.

She added: 'MOE's framework for sexuality education reflects mainstream views and values of Singapore society, where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit.

'Parents are ultimately responsible for inculcating values to their children, and the MOE's sexuality education programme aims to complement parents' roles in helping students make informed, responsible and values-based decisions about sexuality.'

The ministry, she said, had reviewed the current process used to select external groups to run school programmes, and found that they could be improved.

It will also do more to ensure that training materials and programmes in schools are in line with its framework on sexuality education, and will review ways to give parents more information about sexuality education.

Other groups which conduct sexuality programmes in schools include the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association and the Family Life Society.

The new leadership of Aware said it was not surprised by MOE's move. It said it stood by its programme, but was prepared to make changes if necessary.

In a statement, it said the instructor guide was a confidential document used strictly for instructor training.

'Like all instructor guides, ours contains far more information than is used. The guide includes possible responses for instructors should certain topics, such as homosexuality and premarital sex, be raised during sessions,' it said.

'They are not necessarily the responses actually used, as our instructors always use language and terms appropriate to their audience.'

The statement added that Aware's aim has always been to help students make 'informed and responsible decisions about their sexuality in the context of values taught by their parents'.

Meanwhile, senior lawyer Thio Su Mien, the self-described 'feminist mentor' of the ousted Aware leadership, said she was 'pleased' that MOE had looked into the matter and acted in a 'responsible fashion'.

Former president Josie Lau declined comment.

Several parents contacted also welcomed the move.

Mr Vincent Lim, a 34-year-old private tutor and father of two young children, said: 'It is good news for parents. I hope that educators focus on inculcating strong family values and having stable relationships in our sex education programme. The family is the backbone of society.'

From Straits Times, "External sex education programmes suspended in schools".

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And the following is the official press release from MOE, "MOE Statement on Sexuality Education Programme". I like best the last part about how parents are ultimately responsible for inculcating values to their children. That is so true.

1. In recent weeks, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has received feedback on the Sexuality Education Programme conducted by AWARE, as well as other lesson material not involving AWARE. MOE has done a thorough investigation. This statement presents the Ministry's findings and future steps.

2. MOE and the schools do not promote alternative lifestyles to our students. MOE's framework for sexuality education reflects the mainstream views and values of Singapore society, where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit.

3. Today, schools are allowed to engage external vendors to supplement MOE's sexuality education programme. MOE has reviewed the internal processes for selecting and monitoring vendors and found that they can be improved. MOE will put in more stringent processes to ensure that training materials and programmes delivered in schools are in line with the Ministry's framework on sexuality education. Schools will suspend the engagement of external vendors until the new vetting processes are completed. The Ministry is also reviewing ways to provide parents with more information about sexuality education in the specific schools that their children are in.

4. MOE has examined AWARE's 'Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Basic Instructor Guide'. The Guide contains some positive aspects, like the accurate information provided on STIs/HIV and role-play practice for students to say no to sex. However, MOE's assessment is that in some other aspects, the Guide does not conform to MOE's guidelines. In particular, some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of pre-marital sex.

5. In view of this, AWARE's programmes in schools will be suspended and subjected to the new vetting processes.

6. MOE has also investigated feedback about materials used during General Paper (GP) lessons in junior colleges which carry information on alternative lifestyles. These materials and lessons did not involve AWARE. GP lessons are meant to promote critical thinking and discussion on contemporary issues. MOE investigations showed that the teachers had used these materials to initiate discussion on family structures, and not to promote alternative lifestyles. Nevertheless, MOE will remind school leaders and teachers to exercise greater professional discretion in guiding their students when such topics are discussed. They should also adhere to social norms and values of our mainstream society.

7. Parents are ultimately responsible for inculcating values to their children. MOE's sexuality education programme aims to complement parents' role in helping students make informed, responsible and values-based decisions regarding sexuality.

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Update on 09/05: AWARE Sexuality Education Programme was said to 'exceeded guidelines'...and not in a good sense.

On a separate note, Mr. Iswaran's remark about the schools are given 'considerable autonomy' might be seen as pushing the blame back to the schools for not doing a proper & regular review of the suitability of the external sex education prgramme. Although some might also think that it is the responsibility of the MOE, instead.

Parents are quite right to be concerned about some parts of the Association of Women for Action and Research's (Aware) sexuality education programme, Senior Minister of State for Education S. Iswaran said yesterday.

He said that after investigations were conducted into the programme, 'there's a sense that they have exceeded the guidelines'.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said that all sexuality education programmes run by external groups in schools will be suspended until a new, tougher vetting process for such programmes is put in place.

Among the suspended programmes was the controversial one by Aware. The ministry had said it had some suggested responses which are 'explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of premarital sex'.

Neither the ministry nor Mr Iswaran gave details of which parts of the Aware programme they were referring to.

The basic instructor's guide for Aware's programme, a copy of which was posted online, contained lines such as 'anal sex can be healthy or neutral if practised with consent and with a condom', and 'homosexuality is perfectly normal. Just like heterosexuality, it is simply the way you are'.

Speaking after a community event yesterday, Mr Iswaran said the core sexuality programme devised by the MOE would continue in schools.

This programme, he stressed, strives to keep sexuality education in line with mainstream values in Singapore.

It is based on the family as the basic unit and conservative mainstream values in Singapore, he said.

Asked yesterday if the ministry was negligent in taking so long to uncover the specifics of the Aware programme, Mr Iswaran explained that there are more than 350 schools here, and they are given considerable autonomy.

From Straits Times, "Guidelines breached".