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SCMP Reporter

SEX education is to be stepped up in schools, with the Family Planning Association giving a helping hand in teaching the subject.

  The association will be holding seminars to show teachers how to implement its sex education guidelines, to be implemented in the coming academic year, as well as visit schools to see what further help could be given.

  Last year the association designed five sets of action guidelines on the subject of sex education for use by adolescents, parents, principals, teachers and social workers.

   Topics dealt with ranged from questions of responsibility to helping teenagers understand and solve their sex-related problems, as well as how different people view the sensitive subject of sex.

  Prominence was given to the special needs and problems of teenagers. Aspects covered include the need for awareness of young people's physical and psychological growth, ways of promoting sex education and the proper approach and attitude to the subject.

  The guidelines were sent to over 400 secondary schools in March for review by principals and teachers. So far, over 50 schools have replied, expressing interest and seeking further information and help.

  Mr Cheuk Wing-chuen, education officer in charge at the Family Planning Association, said the response was ''quite satisfactory'', despite the comparatively small number of replies.

 ''Some schools may have already started their own sex education programmes, and feel no need for our help,'' Mr Cheuk said. ''Others may be wanting more time to study the guidelines and select teachers suitable for the job.''    The association will be holding two seminars for teachers on sex education, in October and November. Teachers will be shown how to put the guidelines into practice, and invited to share their own ideas about teaching techniques.

  Representatives of the association, social workers and experts on youth affairs will be present to advise.

   Effective teaching methods such as the liberal study approach, and the activity and student-oriented approaches, will be comprehensively covered. Also, case studies of real student problems will be presented.

  Following the seminars, the association will be sending officers and social workers to schools to observe how the guidelines are being implemented and offer help wherever necessary.

  ''These steps are being taken to ensure that sex education gets more than just a superficial treatment in schools,'' Mr Cheuk said. ''The problems of sex education have been talked about for years. We are taking the matter seriously and making an extra effort to make it a part of school education.''    The association plans to visit three to four schools a month.



The Family Planning Association is determined to see sensitive subject become