Parents' opinions on sex education sought

AN unprecedented study on parents' attitudes to sex education is to be conducted as the Education Department considers introducing the subject into the curriculum.

The survey, commissioned by the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, aims to uncover parents' knowledge of, and attitudes towards, sex education.

About 500 parents of junior secondary students will be chosen for the interview, which will be conducted at their homes in November.

Committee chairman Tik Chi-yuen said parents had not been given the chance to voice their opinions on sex education.

'There has been no such study by any group in the past. It is crucial to learn parents' views.' Mr Tik said students from Form One to Form Three, whose parents' opinions would be sought, were the main group in need of sex education.

'It is the prime time for them to receive sex education. They are most interested in male-female relations and sexual behaviour as they are in the middle of their puberty.' The results, to be published in March, would help the Education Department to implement its policy regarding sex education.

Results from a recent survey conducted by the department show about half of Hong Kong's secondary schools have sex education on the curriculum. The classes are lectured by guidance teachers or social workers.