KUALA LUMPUR: Sex education will not be taught as a specific subject in schools as it is imparted through other subjects, the Dewan Negara was told yesterday. Deputy Education Minister Dr Puad Zarkashi said sex education or otherwise known as reproductive health education was imparted through subjects like language, biology, science, additional science, moral education and Islamic education.

He said as such, the ministry was in the process of training teachers as main coaches in reproductive and social health education at the national level to show the ropes to teachers at the state level.

“The main coach training provides exposure on the implementation of the reproductive health and social education in the search for suitable teaching and learning approaches in the classroom,” he said when responding to a question from Senator Doris Sophia Brodi.

Puad said the role of parents and community acceptance would go a long way in assisting teachers to ensure effective implementation of the reproductive health education curriculum.

“Parents’ openness in discussing matters related to sex with their children and support from other parties could indirectly enhance the effectiveness of the curriculum in schools.

“It thus reduces the sensitivity of the subject to enable it to be accepted as a natural process that must be seen in correct perspective,” he added. — Bernama