KUALA LUMPUR: The Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Women, Children, and Community Development has urged the Ministry of Education (MOE) to incorporate comprehensive health education into the curriculum, focusing on the identification of safe and unsafe touches within the family context. The committee emphasized the need for practical strategies that extend beyond textbook knowledge, aiming to empower students.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the committee’s recommendations include addressing issues such as teasing and body shaming by promoting body positivity and appreciation for natural features to boost self-confidence. The committee also highlighted the importance of a holistic approach in tackling paedophilia, which involves child protection education, equipping parents and educators with tools to identify threats, and teaching children about physical and emotional boundaries.

The committee further advised that health education should focus on developing social skills and leadership abilities
to counteract the unchecked influence of technology. Additionally, raising awareness about infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases, is crucial by providing students with comprehensive information on causes, transmission, symptoms, effects, and prevention.

To complement existing curricula, the committee suggested implementing additional activities under the Reproductive and Social Health Education (PEERS) program outside of school hours. These sessions should be conducted separately for male and female students to address sensitive topics in a conducive and comfortable environment, facilitating better understanding among teachers and students.

Other recommendations include incorporating discussions on laws related to children’s fundamental rights and responsibilities, as well as the legal consequences of sexual crimes, particularly those involving minors and consensual sex cases. Yeo Bee Yin, the committee chairperson, clarified the committee’s stance on the PEERS syllabus during a sessi
on in the Dewan Rakyat on December 10.

The committee expressed concerns over emerging issues involving teenagers in conflict with the law, noting that cases of sexual crimes and sexual grooming now involve children as young as eight years old. They questioned the effectiveness of the current health education syllabus in protecting children from the growing threat of sexual crimes.

The committee was informed that a new curriculum, set to be implemented in 2027, will enhance the PEERS program by incorporating new elements while ensuring it does not rely solely on the existing syllabus.