Malaysia to expand ’sex education’ in schools nationwide to battle plague of abortions

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, has said that the government would extend ’sex education’ classes in schools nationwide to deal with the rising rate of abortion in the country.

Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, said that creating an understanding of the reproductive system among the schoolchildren would make them aware of the ill effects of abortion.

“We are giving due attention to sex education because we believe it is one of the methods we can adopt to raise awareness among schoolchildren. We have set up a technical committee to look at the most suitable approach to use in extending the pilot project nationwide,” The Star quoted him, as saying.

Yassin said that the council also agreed that a comprehensive action plan involving the government, private sector and non-governmental organisations was needed as part of a holistic approach to address baby dumping.

The announcement came following a positive response towards a pilot project, which had been implemented in five secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Pahang and Kelantan five years ago.

The pioneer programme called “I am in control”, was aimed at providing knowledge and creating awareness on healthy lifestyles, sexuality, pregnancy prevention, unsafe abortions, abandoned babies and sexually-transmitted disease among students, the paper said.

Over 300 Form Four students in the five urban and rural schools have already undergone the pioneer sex education programme.

Developed by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) with the United Nations Population Fund and the Health Ministry, it was introduced in the schools as part of co-curricular activities. (ANI)