TEACHERS should be given training in sex education to ensure that they are able to conduct classes on the subject appropriately, experts in the field said, following a public uproar over news of a teacher who joked about rape.

At present, most teachers are either shy when conducting sexual education classes or they do not have the right mindset and vocabulary to do so.

Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Kuala Lumpur and Selangor president Ngoh Chee Meng said Chinese primary schools have been giving attention to the topic and have learnt to go beyond talking about the biological and reproductive aspects of sex.

“Sex education is not just talking about reproductive organs, love, contraception and break-ups,” he said.

“It must include lessons on respecting the opposite gender and healthy interactions between friends as well as between parents and children.”

He said Chinese primary school textbooks have included this holistic view of sex education and the subject is included in the teaching curriculum.

“The textbooks have recorded these points well and I think the overall curriculum teaching structure is good,” said Ngoh.

While material and understanding of sex education have improved since the earlier decades, he said, ultimately, a lesson on sex education comes down to the teacher leading the discussion and imparting the knowledge.

“Teachers must have training, otherwise they will use their own background knowledge to teach the students,” he said.

“For example, the teacher’s attitude towards sex … they could end up communicating obscenely or cracking inappropriate jokes.”

He said it is unfortunate that some parents expect their children to learn about human sexuality in school when they should be making an effort to explain the subject to their children.

“Most teachers only briefly introduce the subject to their students. In the end, these children are left to explore on their own,” said Ngoh, who is a well-known sex educator and sex counsellor.

The recent expose by teenager Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam of her physical education teacher who made a rape joke in class and testimonies on social media by female students of “period spot checks” in school are all indicative of how teachers’ own perception of sex and sexuality affects the outcome of their interaction with students, he said.

“How a teacher teaches sex education determines the success or failure of the class,” he said.

“Because once your attitude is wrong, the students will learn from you the wrong way of seeing sex.

“If you don’t respect women, how can the students you teach respect them?”

As a case in point, after Ain Husniza posted what her teacher said on TikTok, she received a rape threat from a classmate. Ain Husniza has lodged two police reports – one against the teacher and the other over the classmate’s threat. The classmate has since apologised for his actions.

Sex education counsellor Ho Mun Yin said some private schools provide tutoring courses and send their teachers for training.

She said she has given more than 400 lectures in schools and noticed that some teachers tended to be shy about the subject.

“Even if they know how to teach, they still feel embarrassed, especially when they encounter some naughty students who deliberately ask awkward questions,” she said.

“Then, the teachers will simplify the textbook content as they do not know how to answer them.”

She said if both the parents and teachers avoid or dismiss a child’s curiosity about sexuality, they will miss the chance to educate the child on having a healthy view of sex.

“Eventually, they will start searching on the internet. However, the information on the internet does not come with good guidance and cannot ensure that they will absorb the correct ideas,” she said.

Ho said watching pornography cannot be taken for sex education. She recounted the case of a Form One student who sought counselling, after being introduced to pornography by a friend in answer to his questions about sex.

“As a result, he couldn’t concentrate on anything. He couldn’t get sexual images out of his mind,” she said.

“He came to seek help to get rid of his porn addiction.”

Schools need not wait until teachers are ready, but can always turn to professional counsellors for help on conducting sex education lessons, the experts said.

“Even if schools and teachers feel that they are not ready, at least arrange for professionals to give lectures in the school,” said Ngoh. – May 8, 2021.